Resolve
Restore
We blend Pacific Indigenous wisdom with modern practices to provide unique and holistic alternative-dispute resolution services
At the heart of what we do lies a living philosophy — the weaving of vā, the relational space that connects people, knowledge, and place.
In Pacific and Indigenous worldviews, Vā is not emptiness but a living field of relationship. A space of energy, care, and reciprocity. To tend to Vā is to maintain the integrity of the relationships that hold life together: people to people, people to land, people to story.
Hivā at Home
Domestic & Family Violence
A trauma-informed, culturally grounded service that addresses domestic and family violence by restoring safety and dignity in the Vā, stabilising crises, supporting accountability, and co-designing practical healing pathways with whānau/‘aiga to rebuild trust and belonging.
Hivā at School
Peer Mediation, Leadership, Outreach, Adjudication
Equips students, staff and community with Pacific values-based peer mediation, leadership training, staff PD, outreach and adjudication support, teaching courageous conversations and restorative practice so conflict becomes a catalyst for safety, respect and stronger relationships.
Restoring Vā
Restorative Justice Work
A culturally grounded restorative justice service that repairs the space between people by convening hui/talanoa to acknowledge harm, clarify needs and obligations, and co-create accountable agreements with practical reparation and ongoing support to maintain the vā.
Mālama Vā
Research & Design, Cultural Supervision, Conflict Coaching, Consultancy
Delivers research and design, cultural supervision, conflict coaching and consultancy that embed Pacific relational ethics into policy, practice and everyday communication, using HIVĀ frameworks to build cultural safety, reflective leadership, clear protocols and confident, compassionate decision-making.
Navigating Vā
Mediation & Conflict Coaching
Mediation and conflict coaching for families, workplaces, churches and communities, using the Hiva Navigation Model to read conflict at behavioural, cultural and structural levels, build shared understanding, surface interests and values, and co-design agreements that protect boundaries, restore connection and develop durable skills for future-focused commitments.
Mana’o Vā
Consultancy, Professional Development
Hivā’s research and advisory arm, is a thinking space where knowledge, culture and relationship meet, creating culturally grounded frameworks for conflict resolution, justice and leadership that integrate Pacific values with Western methods so strategies reflect vā, connection, reciprocity and respect for real-world peacebuilding.
The space between us is not empty; it is alive with meaning, memory, and connection. To honor the vā is to recognize that relationships are sacred, woven with respect, responsibility, and the rhythm of shared humanity.
Our Approach
We are committed to providing a sacred space for healing conflict through Pacific wisdom and cultural restoration.
Learn more about the Hivā approach and our unique frameworks for dispute resolution
Vā Feaaloa’i by Regina “Reggie” Meredith Fitiao
Helenā Kaho
Hivā Founder - BA/LLB (HONS), LLM (HONS), Mediator
A background in land law and firsthand experience with the harm of unresolved family disputes sparked Helenā’s passion for mediation. Now an adjudicator and former legal academic, Helenā focuses on access to justice for Pacific communities, blending legal systems with indigenous values. Grounded in her Tongan heritage and the principle of vā, Helenā works to resolve conflict in ways that restore connection and dignity.
Dr Michael Ligaliga
Hivā Founder - PhD Peace and Conflict, Mediator
Dr Michael Ligaliga is a proud New Zealander shaped by two decades in Samoa and now based in Hawai‘i. Personal experiences of family conflict sparked his journey into conflict resolution, grounded in Pacific values and the concept of vā (relational space). For over 15 years, he has explored the intersection of conflict theory and Indigenous worldviews, leading to the creation of Hivā ADR. As a mediator, educator, and facilitator, he brings these philosophies into governments, organisations, and classrooms worldwide.
Our Valued Clients
We Work Internationally
- FIJI
- SAN FRANCISCO
- CHICAGO
- AUCKLAND
- WELLINGTON
- DUNEDIN
- VIETNAM
- FIJI - SAN FRANCISCO - CHICAGO - AUCKLAND - WELLINGTON - DUNEDIN - VIETNAM
Let’s Work Together
Partner with us to navigate complex disputes with Pacific-informed processes that honour relationships, restore trust, and support lasting resolution.
