How can Ka Hana Pono promote harmony in everyday situations?
An important part of being in Pono is to avoid the knee-jerk reactions that come about from being conflicted, ensnared in negative emotion. Ka Hana Pono encourages, and provides practices for, staying aligned with Spirit Greatness, rather than entangled in pilikia (problems). Hihia is the word Hawaiians of old used to emphasize this point. Hihia is a rare verbal gem that carries volumes of meaning. Literally it’s an entanglement or engaging; they also use the same word to describe a fish net. Ancient Hawaiians viewed a cord, a hala, that binds culprit, offense and victim. To be ensnared in hala is bad enough, but hihia is even worse as it’s a larger, tighter network of many cords tangled into an inescapable snarl of stubborn knots. Hihia is an entanglement of emotions that create actions and reactions, all with negative, troublesome connotations. First two people, each reacting emotionally, direct feelings at each other and absorb feelings inwardly. Action follows, with counter emotion
