Lomilomi Massage

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Lomilomi massage

This article is about the massage technique. For Lomi

lomi salmon, seeLomi salmon.

Lomilomi is the word used today to mean massage ther-

apist or Hawaiian massage. In theHawaiian 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, fingers,

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 inancient Hawaiilomilomi 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 lohelua(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 calledka poe lomilomi(the mas-

sage people) or kanaka lomi (massage person). A re-lated term, kauka lomilomi, was coined in 1920 to de-

scribeosteopathic physicians.[2] The word kauka is the

Hawaiianizedversion ofdoctor.

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 first 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 different schools of lomilomi

with different approaches and techniques.[1]

After American missionaries arrived in 1820 and con-

verted many in theKingdom 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 offered af-

ter his ascent ofMokuaweoweoin 1841 on the United

States Exploring Expedition.[5] ForRobert Louis Steven-

sonit was disagreeable, but English adventurerIsabella

Bird found it delightful.[6] Not only did foreigners re-

ceive lomilomi, they also gave it. According toWilliam

Brighamthe first Director of theBishop 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 certified by the Hawaiian

medical board, Papa Ola Lkahi, or by the various com-

munity health centers. This law is controversial amongsome native practitioners, but those who are certified (but

not licensed) can provide lomilomi without fear of pros-

1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Hawaiihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanford_Dolehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_Museumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Brighamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Brighamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Birdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Birdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Louis_Stevensonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Louis_Stevensonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Exploring_Expeditionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Exploring_Expeditionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mokuaweoweohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Wilkeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Hawaiihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiianizehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteopathic_physicianhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lua_(martial_art)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahunahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Hawaiihttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_4/%EE%BF%80https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lomi_salmon


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2 4 REFERENCES AND SOURCES

ecution under Hawaii state law.[8]

3 Lomilomi today

Many traditionally taught lomilomi practitioners find itvirtually impossible to offer authentic lomilomi in a spa

setting and are unwilling to work in most spas or massage

offices. 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 effort 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 fewhours 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 different 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.



39.



40.

[5] Charles Wilkes (1849). Narrative of the United States Ex-

ploring Expedition. Volume IV. p. Page 162.



77.



26.



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
http://www.lomimassage.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Kahalewaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makana_Risser_Chaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makana_Risser_Chaihttp://books.google.com/books?id=lbMNAAAAQAAJhttp://books.google.com/books?id=lbMNAAAAQAAJhttp://www.amazon.com/Na-Moolelo-Lomilomi-Traditions-Hawaiian/dp/158178046Xhttp://www.amazon.com/Na-Moolelo-Lomilomi-Traditions-Hawaiian/dp/158178046Xhttp://www.amazon.com/Na-Moolelo-Lomilomi-Traditions-Hawaiian/dp/158178046Xhttp://www.amazon.com/Na-Moolelo-Lomilomi-Traditions-Hawaiian/dp/158178046Xhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/032305255Xhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Numberhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosby_(publisher)


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