Lomilomi massage is a traditional Hawaiian massage technique that was practiced for healing, relief of ailments, and relaxation. It involved massaging with all parts of the body using techniques that varied between families and regions. After Western contact, lomilomi went underground but remained popular. It is still practiced today privately, though authentic lomilomi differs from the shorter sessions now common in spas.
Lomilomi massage is a traditional Hawaiian massage technique that was practiced for healing, relief of ailments, and relaxation. It involved massaging with all parts of the body using techniques that varied between families and regions. After Western contact, lomilomi went underground but remained popular. It is still practiced today privately, though authentic lomilomi differs from the shorter sessions now common in spas.
Lomilomi massage is a traditional Hawaiian massage technique that was practiced for healing, relief of ailments, and relaxation. It involved massaging with all parts of the body using techniques that varied between families and regions. After Western contact, lomilomi went underground but remained popular. It is still practiced today privately, though authentic lomilomi differs from the shorter sessions now common in spas.
Lomilomi massage is a traditional Hawaiian massage technique that was practiced for healing, relief of ailments, and relaxation. It involved massaging with all parts of the body using techniques that varied between families and regions. After Western contact, lomilomi went underground but remained popular. It is still practiced today privately, though authentic lomilomi differs from the shorter sessions now common in spas.
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. 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