Ho’oponopono is a practice performed between two or more people with a mediator, usually an elder in the family, to clear any negative aspects in life.  The Hawaiians believed that when something was not right between people it showed up in a physical way.  For example, a fight can casue an accident later after the two people have seporated but in direct result of the fight.  To make sure birthing was smooth, Ho’oponopono was preformed before or in early labor (Sarah).

If a family was doing well, they would have a birthing hut.  Birthing in your own hut was common as well. (Sarah). “As soon as everyone found out a woman was in labor, they would gather outside and singing and dancing to support and welcome the new life.(sarah).

Sometimes the young leaves of the beach morning glory, Pohuehue would be called upon to use as medicine for the labor (Sarah).  Depending, the kahuna would ask for eight leaves, sixteen or twenty-four.  They had to be picked silently, with half gathered in one hand and half gathered in the other. They were not to be mixed.   The gatherer prayed to Ku, the god of medicine with the right hand and Hina, the goddess of medicine with the left (Sarah).  When the leaves were brought back, those picked with the right hand were given to the mother to eat and those picked with the left were crushed and rubbed over her ‘opu, or belly (Sarah).