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Lomilomi
by Betty Fullard-Leo
 
Aunty Margaret
Kalehuamakanoelulu'onapali |
Auntie Margaret Kalehuamakanoelulu'onapali Machado
held both my hands in her firm grip and prayed softly
in Hawaiian. "'Amene," she concluded, peering
intently into my face. "You have pain, tightness
in your right shoulder." Unerringly she poked the
spot that made me wince. At 82, Auntie Margaret is a
modern kahuna lomilomi, schooled in the old ways by
her grandfather and now passing her skills on to a younger
generation at classes conducted on the lana'i of her
Ke'ei beach home.
Lomilomi massage was one of the most often used forms
of physical therapy in old Hawai'i. It was often a family
occupation with methods varying from family to family,
though generally the village kahuna would train the
family member who was destined to inherit the knowledge
over a period of years to be sure of his ability as
a lomilomi healer.
Having a massage was not simply a way to relax for
half an hour; it was a comprehensive spiritual and physical
ritual that began with prayer and continued with cleansing
the body internally and externally. Herbal teas or a
sea water-freshwater mix acted as a purgative to eliminate
toxic wastes from the body. Red clay or Hawaiian salt
might be rubbed on the skin to facilitate external cleansing
as preparation for the massage while the patient alternately
relaxed in a steam hut, then plunged into the ocean,
which helped to increase circulation. Auntie Margaret
also uses herbs gathered from her yard-aloe for burns
and other skin ailments, kukui to cleanse the colon-and
at the back of her house, students can relax in a steam
room at the end of a grueling day.
Once on the massage table in days of old, a patient's
strained muscles and inflamed joints might be wrapped
with ti leaves-generally believed to ward off evil spirits.
The kahuna lomilomi chanted and prayed for all pain
to be removed, as his hands began a general massage
over the entire body. The massage might be intended
to relieve bronchitis, to reposition an unborn child
in the womb, to relieve sprains and other aches, or
to shape long, slender fingers on a baby destined to
dance the hula. Kahuna lomilomi might use heated stones
to speed circulation to badly sprained areas, and when
deeper massage seemed necessary, lomilomi sticks might
be employed, or the therapist might even walk on the
patient's back.
A kahuna lomilomi might also use chiropractic methods
on toe and finger joints, neck and spine. During treatment,
a patient was expected to think healing thoughts. The
kahuna completed the treatment by placing his fingertips
on the patient's forehead and navel and having him breathe
deeply.
Kahuna knew they could transfer their thoughts into
the patient's subconscious, similar to mild hypnosis,
to instill feelings of well-being, and they believed
they could transfer their own vital energy into a person
who was sick.
Auntie Margaret's Home |
Today, Auntie Margaret is possibly the most esteemed
kahuna lomilomi in the Islands. At her Big Island home
near Napo'opo'o, she offers three-week training sessions
to develop "the loving touch" in those who
truly wish to learn the art of Hawaiian massage. Her
assistant, Doctor Mark Lamore teaches anatomy and physiology
in classes that run from eight in the morning to five
in the afternoon. Often, massage therapists come from
far-flung corners of the world-Sweden, Germany, Australia,
Guam-to learn and take Auntie's methods home with them.
Her soothing voice, calm demeanor and strong hands seem
to embody an accepted definition of the aim of Hawaiian
massage: "Lomilomi is an attitude on the part of
the therapist, who must be clean and positive in mind,
body and spirit...the (patient) trusts that lomilomi
can help and comes from a higher power." Auntie
Margaret explains it more directly, "Hawaiian lomilomi
is praying work."
For those who wish to experience lomilomi, luxury hotels,
such as The Orchid at Mauna Lani, Four Seasons Hawai'i
at Hualalai, and Kona Village have incorporated Hawaiian
healing traditions into treatments offered at their
spas. At The Orchid Hotel, spa director Jean Sunderland,
a former student of Auntie Margaret's, has introduced
the "spa without walls" concept by taking
massage sessions out of doors into cabanas by the sea,
where the sounds of lapping waves and an affinity with
nature increase the soothing effects, just as in old
Hawai'i. Unique Hawaiian oils concocted of ki, maile,
sandalwood, pikake, tuberose and other plants are used
during massages at The Orchid.
At the Four Season's Resort at Hualalai most of the
massage therapists have completed training sessions
at Auntie Margaret's, and she has given her approval
of resort programs by blessing the fitness facility.
One of her students, Maryann Rose Broyles works both
at Four Seasons and at the neighboring Kona Village
Resort, where spas have been designed to reflect a Hawaiian
sense of place, sans marble and glittery accouterments,
with massages administered in open garden areas or thatch-roofed
hales. Broyles concocts aromatherapy oils, some with
Hawaiian scents and ingredients such as plumeria, kukui
oil and macadamia nut oil that are used during lomilomi.
She has taken Auntie's instructions to heart and prays
before treatment sessions. She says, "Patients
don't have to know, prayer can be silent, but they will
feel it and open their hearts to you. I practice ho'oponopono,
too." Auntie explains the necessity of ho'oponopono:
"Before the sun sets every day, you must empty
your heart of jealousy and anger." A student who
overhears adds, "With Auntie Margaret, you can
feel her unconditional love."
The Big Island's Kohala Coast is gradually gaining
a reputation as a wellness destination, a place to tone
flabby muscles along resort jogging trails and in hotel
workout rooms, but also a place to find peace of mind,
spirit and body under the hands of massage therapists
trained by a kahuna lomilomi in the secrets of ancient
massage.
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Story
appeared originally in Coffee Times print magazine and
appears online for archival purposes only. Any use or
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