Lomilomi is a traditional Hawaiian concept of working with the mana (life force) of the body, mind and soul of an individual. In the old days each village in each district on each island had their own lomi specialist that the villagers relied upon and trusted. Although lomilomi was a common treatment shared among family members for minor aches and pains, it was the village lomi specialist that treated the more complex problems.

The training to become a lomilomi practitioner could take years where the new student would not be allowed to touch a patient for literally years depending on his or her ability to grasp the many concepts of lomilomi. Also, the student’s ability to be pono (aligned and conflict-free) with himself/herself and to a person/place/thing was a determining factor.

The concepts of lomilomi are vast and complex yet simple if you understand the mechanism, principles and intentions behind this revered form of traditional Hawaiian healing. For example, the concept of “communicating down to the bones” physically and energetically is significant because it lets the patient allow the practitioner to go as deep as they can tolerate yet be non-invasive while achieving the desired results.

Another important factor in the ability to communicate deep into the bones via the soft tissues is the fact that it is at the bone level that all memory is stored from past traumas, injuries or emotional links. As in many indigenous cultures the bones are the most important and protected part of the physical structure and the mana of the individual. It is here that specific codes are stored that make up each individual on a DNA level. Tapping into the bones allows the lomi practitioner to communicate on a soul level so divine healing can take place.

To obtain the level of healing necessary that is immediate and long term the lomi practitioner uses a multitude of techniques that affect the golgi tendon organ apparatus (GTO) in conjunction with the muscle spindle fiber mechanism resulting in a quick response from the specific muscle group being worked on.

There are different perceptions or approaches and techniques when defining lomilomi by the various practitioners or teachers, which can be attributed to the “time line” or reference points in the events of Hawaii’s history. For example, when the Tahitian chief and warrior Pa’ao came to the Hawaiian Islands in about 400 AD or so he forced a class system and belief system upon the peaceful inhabitants. Later in the 1800’s the defacto government (the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom) of Hawaii further forced the original natives not to practice “sorcery” which included lomilomi. Both of these events and many others like this attempted to suppress and change the attitudes and beliefs of the now diluted traditional peoples of Hawaii, however, the secrets of lomilomi persevered through the ages in hidden formats.

Today lomilomi literally has reached to the other side of the world and back to Hawaii. In the right hands lomilomi can have profound results but the mind and heart must be open to all possibilities of healing no matter what culture you come from. Mahalo.