estimated read time - 14 min
Hoʻomaʻemaʻe: The Art of Spiritual Cleansing
We often move through life thinking of ourselves as a single, solid being. One identity, one mind, one self. But in reality this couldn't be further from the truth, You’re not just one thing. You’re a mess of experiences, memories, and emotions, some shining, some broken, all fighting for space inside you. The wounds you carry, the ones you pretend aren’t there, shape how you think, how you act, how you connect. If you choose to ignore them they will proliferate, but if you face them, then you've got a shot at something better. and you’ve got a shot at something better—something whole. That’s where Hoʻomaʻemaʻe comes in, a Hawaiian practice that can be a powerful tool for inner healing.
Hoʻomaʻemaʻe gives us a unique and beautiful process to clear away the emotional, mental, and spiritual burdens we carry. Just as we cleanse our bodies, we must also cleanse our hearts and minds.
Hawaiian Spirituality
The Hawaiian way of life is deeply rooted in values of respect, awareness, and communal responsibility. These principles, passed down through generations, continue to hold meaning in today’s world. Hawaiian tradition teaches that knowledge and understanding are not only about acquiring information but also about applying wisdom in daily life, ensuring harmony and balance within oneself and the community.
A key theme in Hawaiian teachings is the idea of living with awareness. This means being observant, listening, responding, and using your talents to aid the needs of others without waiting to be told. This principle is illustrated through the upbringing within Hawaiian families, where children are expected to develop an intuitive sense of responsibility. They are taught to read the unspoken messages in their environment and act accordingly. This practice reflects the broader Hawaiian philosophy of interconnectedness, where each individual plays a role in the well-being of the collective.
The spiritual dimension of Hawaiian life is also deeply significant. There’s a real respect for the unseen spirits and energies that influence the world in ways we might not fully understand. Hawaii is actually one of the most haunted places in the world (we will hopefully do a whole section on this as it's absolutely fascinating!)/ In traditional times, those who could sense or communicate with these unseen elements were seen as gifted, but also in need of guidance.
What’s beautiful about Hawaiian culture is how it blends traditional wisdom with modern life. Western education and innovation have their place, but the foundation remains the same: humility, respect, harmony, shared responsibility. In a world obsessed with tech and noise, this Hawaiian way of living is a serious lifeline. It’s a reminder to stay grounded, to stay humble, to keep your responsibilities front and center, because without that, you’re just drifting in this sea of nihilism, chasing distractions that leave you empty.
On the islands learning often happens through observation rather than explicit instruction. Teachings are done through everyday actions and the practice of using one’s senses is paramount. Eyes to see, ears to listen, instills an innate understanding of one’s role in the family and society. You’re expected to feel it out, to see where you can help without needing to be asked. There's less a fear of failure and more empasis on actions.
At the heart of it all, Hawaiian teachings are about balance between what we can see and what we can’t, between the idea of knowledge and actually applying to achieve wisdom, between being our individual selves and honoring our role in the community. This balance is what keeps the culture alive and grounded in today’s constantly changing society. The lack of this balance in our greater American culture is a main hurdle our society must overcome to ensure we do not fall into the destructive nature of nihilism and lack of meaning in life.
Table of Contents
Living Pono
Woman in White Meditating on Fallen Tree Trunk
“Pono ke hana.” —“Righteousness is action.”
IRighteousness is something we must actively live and practice every day. Pono means balance, integrity, doing what’s right for yourself and everyone around you. It’s not enough to think good thoughts, you’ve acftually got to shoulder the responsibility and live them. The philosophy of pono emphasizes the importance of doing what’s right and maintain this level of harmony for ourselves as well as for our communities and the rest of the world as a whole.
“Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono”
"The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.".
In life, we humans are constantly striving for pono but balance isn’t easy. Life can (and will) throw conflict, mistakes, and neglect at you like this hellish storm of biblical proportions. When you’re off-kilter, it’s on you to fix it. That means cleansing the junk within. The anger, guilt, resentment, malevolence, that’s clogging up your soul. Hoʻomaʻemaʻe is the tool for that. It’s how you get back to pono, back to living with purpose and integrity.
Living pono is about showing up every day, making choices that align with what’s right, and nurturing the connections that matter and show respect for all tbhat surrounds us. It’s about building a life you can be proud of, one that radiates gratitude, respect, and one that you are genuinely excited to be a part of.
What is Hoʻomaʻemaʻe
Man in White Longsleeves and Black Shorts Floating in the Water
Hoʻomaʻemaʻe means to cleanse, to purify, to make things right again. Hoʻo is action, maʻemaʻe is clean, pure. So it's a clean and purifying action that can act as a reset for your whole being. One that will aid in letting go of the weight you carry, the grudges, the doubts, the noise that keeps you from moving forward with clarity.
In Hawaiian tradition, you’d practice Hoʻomaʻemaʻe before stepping into a sacred space or starting something new. It’s like clearing the bushes and leveling the ground before you begin to build the house. You might do it with a saltwater dip, a quiet prayer, or a walk in the woods, but the point is your intention. This is a sacred practice where you're not supposed to just 'go through the motions', you actually need to make space for this peace and love to proliferate.
This practice can heal more than just you. It can mend relationships, too. After a fight or a misunderstanding, Hoʻomaʻemaʻe paired with Hoʻoponopono (the art of making things right) creates room for forgiveness and love to come back into the relationship. It's the idea of settig your house in order before criticising the world. By focusing on fixing what’s inside you, doing the real work, then you can fix the rest of the world.
In traditional Hawaiian ways, people would practice hoʻomaʻemaʻe before stepping into ceremony or sacred spaces. I don't care whether you're religious or not, there is a deep importance you can feel as you step into somewhere sacred. You must pause before crossing this threshold, whatever it is. Whether it’s a literal space or a new season in life, that moment of cleansing strips away the emotional noise to purify you to a state that is worthy of being in the presence of greatness.
When you take time to do this, whether it's through a quiet prayer, a saltwater bath, or simply a walk in nature with intention, you might feel a shift. It’s like your spirit exhales. There’s room again, for peace, for growth, for connection.
Hoʻomaʻemaʻe may also help heal relationships. After a tough argument or misunderstanding, this kind of cleansing, especially when you pair it with hoʻoponopono—creates space for forgiveness, for truth, for love to return.
It's a reminder that healing doesn’t always start with fixing things out there. The real work, the meaningful work, begins within. When we cleanse ourselves with intention and humility, we open the door to a life that flows with more peace, more balance, and more aloha.
Hoʻoponopono: Forgiveness and Release
Woman in Suit and Glassed Comforting Another Woman in Light Blue Top
Hoʻoponopono is one of the most powerful Hawaiian practices to truly free yourself and allowing yourself to take an honest look inward. Again reiterating the idea, when we let go of the weight we carry, we making space again for peace, clarity, and love.
At its core, 'Hoʻoponopono' means “to make things right, doubly right.” And that’s exactly what it feels like. Looking inward pushes you to own your part in the mess. You're not pretending the pain didn’t happen but rather you're choosing to have peace over the chaos.
Imagine you and your brother haven’t spoken for months because of a misunderstanding over family responsibilities. The tension’s eating at you, and it’s not just you, it’s rippling out, poisoning everyone around you. You mother is more curt wth you, your father gives you a look of disgust. What is going on? Is there something going on with them or am i projecting some sort of negative energy that is bringing this negativity back to me? Hoʻoponopono starts with you. So you continue to ask yourself, “How am I at fault. How can I be the bigger person in this situation. Could I have been kinder, more patient., How does he know I am being patient with him. What are some ways he could be seeing this through his own lens of unique human experiences.”
Then you act. Maybe you apologize, not because you’re groveling or bending to his will to secretly inflate your own ego as the superior one on the backend, but because you’re taking responsibility for your own piece of the puzzle. then at this point it no longer matters if they meet you halfway or not, you’ve done your part, you’ve lightened the load, you can exit stage left and leave all those negative weights behind.
An Auntie we adore once said, “Don’t be afraid to take the first step, especially when it comes to someone you love. You might not be able to control the outcome, but you can be responsible for the energy you carry in your heart.”
Traditionally, this was done with the whole family and group of people that are affected, led by an elder or healer. It would be raw, real, there would be tears shed, apologies, hugs, it's probably one of the most beautiful experiences of connection you will ever experience. But, even if you do it alone in your own quiet way, you will be decluttering your soul to restructure your past and make room for something better. And if you truly love yourself, you would give yourself that gift, wouldn't you?
Hoʻomaʻemaʻe in Nature
Man Standing in the Middle of the Mountain Facing the Sunrise
“Nature itself is the best physician”-Hippocrates
Hoʻomaʻemaʻe is deeply connected to the elements seeing nature as a sacred healer and teacher. Through water (wai), sun (lā), wind (makani), and land (ʻāina),Hawaiians have long practiced set of natural purification rituals to restore balance within. By taking the time to understand the breadth of wisdom encased in these rituals, we can integrate true cleansing nature-based healing into our modern lives.
Water (Wai): Water is life and is considered b oth a sacred cleaner for physical and spiritual pains. Rituals like hiʻuwai (ocean or freshwater cleanses) release negativity held within the body, and there exist many sacred waters on each island that are believed to carry spiritual power. A dip in the ocean or a stream can be used to wash away grief, fear, whatever’s holding you back. It's important when doing this to visualize negativity washing away. If you don't have access to a beautiful hawaiian waterfall (like most of us), you can do a mindful shower and imagine the negativity draining away, or sit by a river dipping in your toes, push all negativity to your feet and let its flow carry your burdens away.
Sun (Lā): The sun is energy, enlightenment, raw power. In Hawaiian stories, it’s tied to the ideas of creation and renewal. It plays a vital role in agriculture, celestial navigation, fishing, and more. Stand in the morning light, feel its warmth, and let it burn away the fog in your mind. Mythologically, the demigod Māui is said to have slowed the sun to extend daylight (we will get into this later). The Lā symbolizes enlightenment, renewal, and mana (spiritual power), influencing traditional healing and purification practices like Hoʻomaʻemaʻe.
Wind (Makani): Wind symbolizes movement, change, and the clearing of stagnant energy. It carries mana (life force), spiritual messages, and reflects the idea of a higher connection between people and nature. Makani guided ancient voyagers and is believed to carry divine energy and ancestral wisdom. Each island has its own unique winds and in mythology, winds are personified, an example is La‘amaomao, the goddess who controlled the winds within a gourd. Makani is often seen as a force of transformation as the wind connects all things.
Land (ʻĀina): The land is sacred and viewed as a living, spiritual entity that sustains life and connects people to their ancestors. Unlike Western concepts of land ownership, islanders see themselves as kahu (a type of steward) of the ʻāina, responsible for its care and preservation. The phrase “Mālama ʻĀina” (to care for the land) reflects this deep responsibility. Walking barefoot (Pālehu) was a traditional method of absorbing the earth’s grounding energy. Palehu is so engrained in the culture on the islands, you can actually just pay attention to the types of footwear and times when people are walking barefoot, and be able to tell the difference between vacationers and locals. You may not be living on the islands but you can still be a part of this culture. Take off those shoes and walk barefoot on the grass, feel the earth under you, and let it ground you. This is helpful both biologically and metaphysically. We NEED the beneficial bacteria from soil for healthy skin. But also metaphysically as land is a living ancestor, it carries memories and power. Care for it, and it cares for you.
Hoʻomaʻemaʻe (Purification) Rituals
Woman in White Top Lying Beside a Mortar and Pestle, Crystals and Woods
Hoʻomaʻemaʻe rituals are all about deep, soulful cleansing, clearing out the junk you can’t always see, like emotional weight, spiritual tension, or that grude with your brother that lingers. It’s a way of letting go of anything that doesn’t serve your well-being, and creating space inside and honestly, a beautiful reset for the heart and spirit.
Hiʻuwai (Ocean or Water Cleansing Ritual)
Hiʻuwai is a traditional Hawaiian ocean or water cleansing ritual that is often performed at sunrise and involves entering the ocean or a freshwater stream guided by prayer and intention. Step into the ocean or a stream at sunrise, while you should also focus on swimming so as not to drown, you should mentally be imagining the negative energy being dissipated into the water. Say a prayer, feel the water’s cool embrace, and let it wash away the heaviness. This is hiʻuwai, a ritual that connects you to the life-giving power of water. It’s done before big moments—new years, sacred ceremonies—because it prepares you to step forward clean.
Hiʻuwai is often practiced during meaningful times, like Makaliʻi (the Hawaiian New Year), or before entering sacred places. Althought usually a communal act (who goes swimming alone!) it is often done in silence or with oli (chants) and pule (prayers). Focus on the energy of the water and feel the presence of ancestors and the mana that flows through all nature, the spiritual energy flowing through it all. It’s also done before big moments like new years, or a ceremonial event, as it prepares you to step forward into the event clean and refreshed.
Pule (Prayer & Intention Setting)
Pule the Hawaiian word for prayer, is their way for anchoring yourself to this reality. It’s a quiet, powerful moment where you reconnect with something deeper and sometimes it's just intention or a silent breath of stillness, othertimes it's much more verbal and a communication with a higher source. Kind of like how we use prayer commonly, use can use pule to start a day with clarity, bless a meal, or ask for guidance when feeling uncertain. Or even to offer gratitude when you are blessed enough with the gifts of life, and have no words big enough to express it. Like common prayer, pule isn’t always formal or scripted (actually it's more commonly not) and is meant to be spoken from the heart. It's also commonly used when entering sacred places or engaging in practices like hiʻuwai or hoʻoponopono.
Lāʻau Lapaʻau (Herbal Cleansing & Healing)
Lāʻau Lapaʻau is a practice all about nurturing the spirit through honoring the land and in a sense is a type of plant based healing. It's a pretty powerful message and the island way of reminding you how wellness really begins in our relationship with the ʻāina (land).
A kahu lāʻau lapaʻau ( traditional healer) will gather leaves with such care, speaking softly to the plants, offering pule (prayer) before taking only what was needed. Common plants are pōpolo berries, noni fruit, awapuhi leaves, kukui nuts, māmaki leaves, and of course awa root (kava). When used with intention, they help restore balance in the human body through physical as well as emotional and spiritual blockages.
But you don’t need to be a kahu or shaman to feel this conection with nature. Brew up some proper kava, listen to some beautiful calming music and sip it slowly with intention, Let its calm sink into you and be a reminder that healing comes from connecting to our land.
Paʻakai (Salt Purification)
Paʻakai is a purification ritual involving Hawaiian sea salt. Paʻakai is used to clear spaces, release stuck energy, and create a sense of spiritual balance. Practitioners sprinkle it around their home during times of transition or when cleansings are needed. You can also add it to your bath when you feel emotionally heavy, or just hold it in your palms while saying pule (prayer), asking for clarity and peace. There is said to be a subtle but noticeable powerful shift in presence as if the salt is absorbing the weight in some way, helping to center yourself.
Paʻakai is commonly gathered from salt ponds like those in Hanapēpē, Kauaʻi. It’s harvested with intention and seen as a gift from the sea . So when you decide to use it, make sure to carry that same reverence, honoring where it came from and what it carries.
Makani Hoʻomaʻemaʻe (Wind Cleansing)
Stand where the wind blows strong—by the sea, on a hill. Close your eyes, breathe deep, and let it carry away your doubts and fears. In Hawaiian tradition, wind has mana, a living force that clears what’s stagnant. It’s a quiet ritual, but it leaves you lighter.
Makani Hoʻomaʻemaʻe, also known as wind cleansing, is one of those beautifully subtle yet deeply Hawaiian practices that really stays with you. The idea is simple, to let the wind carry away what no longer serves you, but the experience… it’s something else entirely.
If you want the full experience, try standing near the ocean cliffs on the early morning sunrise (not to close though!). Close your eyes and feel the spirit of wind rushing past you like it has somewhere important to be (because it does). And in that moment, just let go. Not in some dramatic way, just breathe deeply, close your eyes, and ask the wind to take the heaviness you’ve been carrying. Old worries, fear, doubt, grief, even grudges. You might feel like the wind is listening. Like it knew exactly what to do.
Traditionally, Hawaiians stood in strong winds to release worries and used chanting to focus intentions. On the islands you can stand on a cliff, let the breeze rip through you, and imagine it carrying off your worries. but if you don't have access to a cliff, you can just go to the roof of any tall building or sometimes a top floor with a balcony. Maybe even just the roof of your house. The idea is to be above ground to feel the air rolling over behind you and pushing whatever worries you have out into the wind.
The makani (wind) is believed to be full of mana (spiritual energy). As we stated earlier in this post, certain winds even have names, personalities, and purposes. Makani Hoʻomaʻemaʻe taps into that belief, that the wind can cleanse the spirit, clear emotional clutter, and return us to a more balanced, grounded state..
When life feels too heavy, find a place where the wind speaks. Stand still, breathe, and let the wind do what it does best: move through, clear out, refresh. Afterward, you might feel lighter… like you’ve made space for something new to flow in.
ʻAwa Ceremony (Kava Purification Ritual)
The ʻAwa ceremony can be a purification ritual as well. ʻAwa(kava) itself is seen as a plant with great mana. Traditionally, it’s used to calm the body, still the mind, release negativity or stress that is hovering around within. But in ceremony, it's actually something much deeper. It becomes a bridge between the realms of past future, and setup up a line of connection with the Gods.
During a purification style awa ceremony, it always begins with a pule (prayer), often calling in the ancestors, asking for guidance and protection. Each person is invited to share from the heart what they’re deciding to let go. And then, one by one, the ʻawa is offered and received with gratitude.
The feeling of drinking ʻawa in that context is different from casual settings and is a practice I HIGHLY recommend you try if you are a kava drinker. There's a deeper connection one can experience using kava with this intention, and it a great way to break through if you've been having any troubles meditating with kava. During the middle and end of the ceremony you will know what I am talking about. There will be this feeling that something has been shifted, unlocked, in the group and within you. It was a breakthrough key for me to be more successful using kava with higher intentions.
Oli Hoʻomaʻemaʻe
Woman in Black Top Meditating in the Bedroom
Chanting for Cleansing & Renewal
Oli Hoʻomaʻemaʻe is a Hawaiian chant used for cleansing and renewal. Using an oli before purification rituals is quite common in Hawaiian spiritual practice as it helps to set the tone. Think of it as both a pule (prayer) as well as an invitation.
You might hear or use this chant being used as a beautiful grounding ritual before starting something new, after a challenging experience, or as a way to set intentions with a clean slate.
"E Ho Mai"-often used before learning or entering sacred spaces, asking for knowledge and clarity.
E hō mai ka ʻike (Grant us the knowledge)
Mai luna mai ē (From above)
O nā mea huna noʻeau (The hidden wisdom)
O nā mele ē ē (Of the chants)
Though it is not strictly labeled as an oli hoʻomaʻemaʻe, it's frequently used to spiritually prepare someone and help them align their thoughts and body with whatever practice's cleansing intention they are undergoing.
Custom Oli Hoʻomaʻemaʻe- these chants are written for ceremonies. They are usually created by modern practitioners , still following the traditional format but are personalized to the specific event or intention.
Example:
Hoʻomaʻemaʻe ʻia ke kino a me ka naʻau,
E paʻa ka manaʻo i ka pono a me ke aloha.
(Cleanse the body and the heart,
Let the mind be firm in righteousness and love.)
This chant may be used at the start of meditation, kava ceremony, or a gathering to set sacred space.
Conclusion
Hoʻomaʻemaʻe is a beautiful set of traditions we all can use to face the past and the future with courage and wisdom. Through prayer, water, wind, or a simple chant, you let go of resentment, pain, guilt, making room for a deep forgiveness and love or connection.
Hawaiian wisdom tells us life is about harmony. You don’t find this wisdom by running from the hard stuff, rather it's found by doing the hard work. So show up for yourself, take a step, cleanse your heart, live pono. By taking these actions we don’t just heal ourselves but we restore harmony to the entire world we come in contact with.
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