What is Lomilomi?

Lomilomi literally means "to break up into small pieces with the fingers." This form of massage involves both physical and spiritual ritual components and originated in the South Pacific. It is practiced mainly in the Hawaiian islands.

In old time, lomilomi was practiced mainly among family members. There were various orders of medical priest, known as "kahunas." The one who specialized in massage was the kahuna lomilomi. One member of the family would be trained by a village kahuna. This person would then pass the training on to the next generation. Kahunas not only trained practitioners in the physical aspects of massage, they also taught that an important aspect of the healing process was the transfer of positive thoughts from the lomilomi practitioner to the client in a way that channels energy, called "mana" or life force, and releases a sense of well-being.

Benefits Lomilomi cleanses and relaxes the body, both physically and spiritually in order to achieve internal harmony. It increases circulation, relaxes tension spots, and relieves pain.

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