He Hana No'eau ka hana lomilomi?

Aloha E na Po'e Lima Maika'i, As part of our 'Modern Issues' of Hawai'i class here at MCC we sometimes address hana no'eau and cultural practices and their interaction with modern times. As a practitioner of lomilomi, I work in many places bringing lomi to the people, both tourist and kama'aina alike. Although what we do in the spa as a relaxation modality definately differs from what we can do within the community as a healing modality, the basic rhythms and tennets of lomilomi remain, like their hula 'auana and hula kahiko counterparts, essentially Hawaiian. Are there those here who practice lomilomi and what are your views on lomi's practical application in today's world? Thank you, Eliza :)

Many of our Hawaiians criticized Aunty Margaret and Uncle Kalua for charging for their Lomi Lomi and classes. One of my aunts said it was God's gift and they shouldn't charge money. I don't think our people today remember that even Kahuna in ancient times charged for their services, small healing=small pig, big healing=big pig etc. I remember Uncle Kalua saying he use to take just donations, but people would bring the whole family and tell him he had to fix their arm so they could play the slot machines when they go to Las Vegas the next week. And then they put just $7.00 in the calabash for the whole family.
Aunty Margaret had mostly Haole haumana and they Hawaiians didn't like that either, they said she shouldn't show the Haole the Hawaiian secrets of healing. She wanted more Hawaiians but she said they wouldn't take the classes, or come late, not show up everyday, not pay their tuition. The old way of training was very strict, hard work no pay, clean toilets, clean, cook, massage everyday. The old folks wanted to see if you could be trusted with the IKE and MANA that they would give.
Aunty Margaret also encouraged all the haumana to study Western Anatomy and Physiology and get a Massage license because she said the Western Government wouldn't acknowledge Hawaiian tradition. She wanted lomi lomi to be respected in the medical doctors and so the hotels spas could provide employment for the haumana.
Aunty is now 95 years old, she was given the HA by her Tutu as a young girl and chanted over, later she received the 'ili'ili from the Papa 'Ili'ili that was used by Tutu to teach the haumana about the body and the illnesses.
She said her work was the Lord's work and all the haumana were God's children so that is why she taught freely. There were miracles that happen, angels that appeared at the school, people healed of cancer and pain. Most of all she share the ALOHA, ALO=divine presence HA=breath of life, unconditional love to all who came to her for help and to learn lomi lomi. Lives were changed and hearts healed. She told me, it is Jesus who does the healing not you!! You must always PULE/pray and ask the Lord. She said we had to Ho'oponopono everyday and forgive before the Sun set. We could not let anger stay in us because our hands needed to be gentle and loving so that the patient could feel the sincerity of our heart and their soul would reach out to ours and God's healing would flow through both of us.
She did not allow fornication or getting drunk or high on her property. Her work was PONO, Ho'oma'ema'e/clean.
I desire to carry on this tradition, I do so working in the spas, on my family and friends. I am nearing 60 years old and yet God has given me the strength to do this work, to Him be the glory for the things He has done.
Paola Lehua

Replies

Lehua September 16, 2009 at 3:31pm

Many of our Hawaiians criticized Aunty Margaret and Uncle Kalua for charging for their Lomi Lomi and classes. One of my aunts said it was God's gift and they shouldn't charge money. I don't think our people today remember that even Kahuna in ancient times charged for their services, small healing=small pig, big healing=big pig etc. I remember Uncle Kalua saying he use to take just donations, but people would bring the whole family and tell him he had to fix their arm so they could play the slot machines when they go to Las Vegas the next week. And then they put just $7.00 in the calabash for the whole family.
Aunty Margaret had mostly Haole haumana and they Hawaiians didn't like that either, they said she shouldn't show the Haole the Hawaiian secrets of healing. She wanted more Hawaiians but she said they wouldn't take the classes, or come late, not show up everyday, not pay their tuition. The old way of training was very strict, hard work no pay, clean toilets, clean, cook, massage everyday. The old folks wanted to see if you could be trusted with the IKE and MANA that they would give.
Aunty Margaret also encouraged all the haumana to study Western Anatomy and Physiology and get a Massage license because she said the Western Government wouldn't acknowledge Hawaiian tradition. She wanted lomi lomi to be respected in the medical doctors and so the hotels spas could provide employment for the haumana.
Aunty is now 95 years old, she was given the HA by her Tutu as a young girl and chanted over, later she received the 'ili'ili from the Papa 'Ili'ili that was used by Tutu to teach the haumana about the body and the illnesses.
She said her work was the Lord's work and all the haumana were God's children so that is why she taught freely. There were miracles that happen, angels that appeared at the school, people healed of cancer and pain. Most of all she share the ALOHA, ALO=divine presence HA=breath of life, unconditional love to all who came to her for help and to learn lomi lomi. Lives were changed and hearts healed. She told me, it is Jesus who does the healing not you!! You must always PULE/pray and ask the Lord. She said we had to Ho'oponopono everyday and forgive before the Sun set. We could not let anger stay in us because our hands needed to be gentle and loving so that the patient could feel the sincerity of our heart and their soul would reach out to ours and God's healing would flow through both of us.
She did not allow fornication or getting drunk or high on her property. Her work was PONO, Ho'oma'ema'e/clean.
I desire to carry on this tradition, I do so working in the spas, on my family and friends. I am nearing 60 years old and yet God has given me the strength to do this work, to Him be the glory for the things He has done.
Paola Lehua
ʻOhukaniʻōhiʻa September 16, 2009 at 10:15am

The majority of the lomilomi folks I know keep it to the healing side, some actually get into the system, listed with HMSA in their complementary care section and eligible for insurance coverage, but more typically quietly in the community, offering healing, accepting whatever payment in $, goods, or services that their patients can offer.

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