Lomilomi massage

This article is about the massage technique. For Lomi

lomi salmon, see Lomi salmon.
Lomilomi is the word used today to mean massage ther-
apist or Hawaiian massage. In the Hawaiian language,
the word used traditionally, called lomi, means to knead,
to rub, or soothe; to work in and out, as the paws of a con-
tented cat.
[1]
1 Traditional practice
Lomilomi practitioners use the palms, forearms, ngers,
knuckles, elbows, knees, feet, even sticks and stones. It
may be performed with or without lubrication. Lomilomi
practices varied by family, Ahupuaa (traditional region)
and island.
[1]
Traditionally in ancient Hawaii lomilomi was practiced in
four contexts:
1. As a healing practice of native healers -- kahuna
lau lapaau (healers) and kahuna hh (diagnos-
ticians)
2. As a luxury and an aid to digestion, especially by the
ruling chiefs (alii)
3. As restorative massage within the family
4. By lohe lua (masters of the Hawaiian martial arts)
Although the term kahuna lomilomi is widely used in
contemporary writings, traditionally the people who per-
formed lomilomi were called ka poe lomilomi (the mas-
sage people) or kanaka lomi (massage person). A re-
lated term, kauka lomilomi, was coined in 1920 to de-
scribe osteopathic physicians.
[2]
The word kauka is the
Hawaiianized version of doctor.
Future practitioners were selected in childhood, around
age 5, based on birth signs such as weather events, birth-
marks (especially on the head), and kind behavior. After
a decade or more of study, they would begin to practice
but mastery was believed to take a lifetime.
[1]
Like all endeavors in old Hawaii, lomilomi was conducted
with prayer and intention. Hawaiian kupuna (elder) Aun-
tie Margaret Machado describes lomilomi as praying
work.
[3]
Emma Akana Olmstead, a kupuna of Hana,
Maui, in the 1930s, said, When a treatment is to be
given, the one who gives the treatment rst plucks the
herbs to be used. He prays as he picks the herbs. No one
should call him back or distract his attention, all should
be as still as possible for they do not want the vibration
broken. They knew the laws of vibration. They knew
the power of the spoken word. They knew Nature. They
gathered the vibration of the plentiful.
[4]
2 History of lomilomi
The early Polynesian settlers brought their own form of
massage and it evolved to become something uniquely
Hawaiian. It was practiced by everyone, from child to
chief. As an indigenous practice that evolved over hun-
dreds of years in isolated valleys throughout the island
chain, there are many dierent schools of lomilomi
with dierent approaches and techniques.
[1]
After American missionaries arrived in 1820 and con-
verted many in the Kingdom of Hawaii to Christianity,
various laws prohibited heathen worship and any re-
lated Native Hawaiian healing practices. Lomilomi as
part of medical practice went underground. But lomilomi
as restorative massage remained popular not only among
the Hawaiians, but among foreign residents and visitors
as well. Charles Wilkes describes it being oered af-
ter his ascent of Mokuaweoweo in 1841 on the United
States Exploring Expedition.
[5]
For Robert Louis Steven-
son it was disagreeable, but English adventurer Isabella
Bird found it delightful.
[6]
Not only did foreigners re-
ceive lomilomi, they also gave it. According to William
Brigham the rst Director of the Bishop Museum, writ-
ing in 1908, one of the most skilled practitioners was
Sanford Dole, one of the leaders of the overthrow of the
Kingdom.
[7]
Although the Legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii
banned curing through superstitious methods in 1886,
massage was not subject to legislation until 1945. In
1947, the Board of Massage was established to regulate
lomilomi and massage. The law required practitioners to
pass a written test on anatomy, physiology and massage
theory. Many renowned native healers were unable or un-
willing to pass the test, and thus lomilomi as restorative
massage was forced underground. In 2001, the Legisla-
ture passed Act 304, amending HRS section 453, allow-
ing native practitioners to be certied by the Hawaiian
medical board, Papa Ola Lkahi, or by the various com-
munity health centers. This law is controversial among
some native practitioners, but those who are certied (but
not licensed) can provide lomilomi without fear of pros-
1
2 4 REFERENCES AND SOURCES
ecution under Hawaii state law.
[8]
3 Lomilomi today
Many traditionally taught lomilomi practitioners nd it
virtually impossible to oer authentic lomilomi in a spa
setting and are unwilling to work in most spas or massage
oces. They prefer to treat selected clients quietly and
privately, often in home settings. Lomilomi practitioners
may also ask their clients to pray, meditate, change their
diets, and engage in other self-help activities usually be-
lieved to lie outside the scope of massage in an eort to
truly help the clients obtain optimal health.
Unlike traditional lomilomi kupuna (elder) recognized by
the Hawaiian community who require students to study
with them for years, some massage schools around the
world purport to train therapists in lomilomi in a few
hours and some massage therapists may incorporate tech-
niques from other massage modalities during the session.
While often pleasant, this style of massage which is now
a common and popular massage modality throughout the
world, especially in Hawaii, Japan, Europe and Australia,
is very dierent from authentic lomilomi.
[9]
4 References and sources
[1] Stillerman, Elaine (2009). Modalities for Massage and
Bodywork. Mosby. pp. 115126. ISBN 032305255X.
[2] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Moolelo Lomilomi:
Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page
85.
[3] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Moolelo Lomilomi:
Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page
39.
[4] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Moolelo Lomilomi:
Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page
40.
[5] Charles Wilkes (1849). Narrative of the United States Ex-
ploring Expedition. Volume IV. p. Page 162.
[6] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Moolelo Lomilomi:
Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page
77.
[7] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Moolelo Lomilomi:
Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page
26.
[8] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Moolelo Lomilomi:
Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page
177.
[9] R. Makana Risser Chai (2005). Na Moolelo Lomilomi:
Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. p. Page
209.
Pukui & Elbert dictionary
R. Makana Risser Chai, Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi: The
Traditions of Hawaiian Massage & Healing, Bishop
Museum Press.
R. Makana Risser Chai, Hawaiian Massage
Lomilomi: Sacred Touch of Aloha, Hawaiian
Insights.
Nancy Kahalewai, Hawaiian Lomilomi - Big Island
Massage, Island Massage Publishing.
Robert Noah Calvert, The History of Massage, Heal-
ing Arts Press.
History of Lomilomi, July 2000 issue of Massage
Magazine.
Hawaiian Lomilomi Association
3
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