|
 Lomi lomi practitioners use the palms, forearm, fingers, knuckles, elbows, knees, feet, and hot stones. Lomilomi practices varied by family, ahupua’a (region) and island.
Traditionally, lomilomi was practiced in four contexts:
- As a healing practice of native healers -- kahuna lā’au lapa’au (healers) and kahuna hāhā (diagnosticians)
- As a luxury and an aid to digestion, especially by the ruling chiefs (ali’i)
- As restorative massage within the family
- By masters of the Hawaiian martial arts
Lomilomi is now a common and popular form of massage throughout the world, especially in Hawai'i, Japan and Europe. Traditionally taught lomilomi practitioners are generally unwilling to work at just any spa or massage office. They prefer to treat selected clients quietly and privately, often in home settings. Lomilomi practitioners may also ask their clients to engage in other self-help activities usually believed to lie outside the scope of massage. Lomilomi is a holistic healing tradition beyond simple massage. |
