Most people would accept the notion that things happen in life that are beyond an individual's control. This may be especially true for life events that are perceived as negative. There's a general acceptance among people that ill fortune sometimes strikes, and that it sometimes strikes people who aren't in any way deserving of having bad things happen to them. While some people may curse the skies when something especially negative occurs, most people eventually accept such things as an unfortunate element of life.

The ho'oponopono spiritual practice rejects the idea that bad things happen arbitrarily. In fact, ho'oponopono states that negative life circumstances come directly from people themselves. To phrase it in a different way, according to ho'oponopono all the bad that happens in one's life is the responsibility of the individual. This approach is clearly out of the mainstream, as it implies a couple of truths: that life is not arbitrary; and that humans have a great deal of control over their circumstances. This sort of thinking goes against the generally accepted belief that humans are limited beings subject to the whims of a powerful universe.

Ho'oponopono is actually a method that's been practiced for generations. Ho'oponopono in its original form is a Hawaiian technique that's used as a conflict resolution between groups of people. This original ho'oponopono form has been altered in a way that allows for connections between an individual and a spiritual force. This offshoot method of ho'oponopono is known as Self Identity Through Ho'oponopono and is practiced and taught on an increasingly wide scale. It is this ho'oponopono form, Self Identity Through Ho'oponopono, that states people are entirely responsible for their experience; equally important perhaps is that this ho'oponopono form says that humans can change life circumstances for the better.

Though ho'oponopono certainly has its detractors, an increasing number of people have embraced the ho'oponopono method. There is some documented evidence that ho'oponopono can help people reverse high blood pressure. There are also myriad claims made by individuals that ho'oponopono has helped them in numerous different ways. Some people claim that ho'oponopono healed health problems. There are also claims that ho'oponopono significantly improves life quality overall. And still others claim that ho'oponopono allowed them to heal others. Though it may sound like it's a religious form of some type, ho'oponopono is actually secular. Ho'oponopono does not emphasize worship or spiritual penalties for acts performed.

Ho'oponopono equally doesn't guarantee some magical transformation into a life of riches and perfect bliss. People who regularly practice ho'oponopono will be the first to tell you that the practice requires a consistent effort. They also say however that the effort pays off in multiple and unexpected ways.