Lomi Lomi literally means "to break up into small pieces with the fingers/" Is is a type of healing massage that is traditionally practiced in the Hawaiian Islands. This method is defined as "to rub, press,crush, massage, rub out, to work in and out as claws of a contented cat? In the early 1900's Lomi Lomi was coined "Hawaiian massage" by the legal system. The form of massage involves both physical and spiritual ritual component. Lomi Lomi originated in the South Pacific and is practiced mainly in the Hawaiian Island although practitioners of this are can be found in Australia, and the U.S.

   The use of palms, forearms, fingers, knuckles, elbows, knees, feet and even sticks, shells and stones make this form of massage a true whole body:and contact with Nature, experience.

Traditionally, Lomi Lomi was practice in four contexts:

As a healing practice of native healers

As a luxury and aid to digestion for the ruling chiefs

A restorative massage withing the family

By the masters of Hawaiian martial arts

While the word kahuna lomilomi  is widely used in contemporary writings as the massage practitioner, those who performed the healing art were called ka po'e lomilomi (the massage people) or kanaka lomi (massage person). a related term kauka lomilomi was coined in 1920 to describe osteopathic physicians. The word kauka is the Hawaiian version of doctor.

Like all endeavors in old Hawaii, Lomi LOmi was conducted with prayer and intention. Herbs were often used and no one was to disturb the practitioner as he or she prepared to conduct the healing art. They did not want the vibration broken between them and Nature; these old practitioners knew the laws of vibration, of connection, they knew the power of the spoken word. They gathered the vibration of the plentiful.

This form of massage was used for healing, childbirth musculoskeletal disorders, asthma and applied to babies and children to strengthen them and mold their features for physical beauty.

 Most often the massage was performed in family units once a member learned the skill from the village medical priest, or kahuna. This skill set was handed down through the generations accompanied by the transferred teachings of using positive thoughts to channel energy called Mana; the life force.

 Lomi Lomi releases healing energy or Mana from the practitioner into the client as the therapist uses the long, flowing, dance-like movements along the client's body. This form of massage has been compared to rocking a baby in a cradle, working deeply but rhythmically with the long strokes fully nurturing the body. The experience can overwhelm the mind with sensations and communicates an acceptance of the inner self, and often changes the way you think, feel, move and breathe as harmony is achieved between the body, mind and soul. The body's subtle energy channels, Chakras, nadis and meridians or Zen lines are used to effect this harmony. The body may then release painful past life memories, stress, depression and trauma locked away in the subconscious mind.

The hands on technique is an important part in this massage and its associated healing, however the work must be done with unconditional love from the practitioner whose focus is deep and complete. Love and compassion for the client must be present, rather than treating him/her as an object to be 'fixed'. This is what allows the energy flow and established true harmony within the body.

Prior to and following all healing modalities the practitioner took part in spiritual blessing to initiate the healing process as they sought harmony between man, nature, and the gods/goddesses. This practice was an essential part of their practice and known as lokahi. Without lokahi there is illness. Today in our Western lifestyle we forget the oneness of connecting with Nature and the gods/goddesses; look around at all the illness in our society brought on not only by the poisons in our food, air and water, but by the hustle of daily life and the dis-connecting of the family unit