Mahalo Gloria - it's nice to know someone else is here. Thinking of waves reminds me of something we put in the picture book. A portion of what we today call Waikiki beach used to be called Hamohamo, and according to Queen Lili'uokalani, that area was particularly healing. Hamohamo of course means to stroke gently, to anoint with oil. I read recently that the area received that name because the water stroked the sand gently there, but "coincidentally" the beach boys used to give lomilomi on that exact same spot.

I've spent the last 2 weeks working somewhat differently, thinking and watching the skin billow and roll in front of my arms and hands as I pressed into the skin... If I went to fast or didn't listen to the body the billowing and rolling was absent... but with intent the billowing and rolling was amazing.

Makana Risser Chai said:

Mahalo Rudy. I met Kahu a few years ago and his insights and wisdom are wonderful! With many people exploring this question, I'm sure we can find great answers. But anyone can play! What do ocean billows mean to us as lomi practitioners? How do stars relate? Kahuli are also land snails that make a singing noise. In my Na Mo'olelo book are some stories of a practitioner on Maui who sang while she gave lomi. She sang of the beauty of the body she was working on, and how different parts reminded her of different places on the island. We can let our imaginations run with these images!

Wonderful Rudy! I no longer practice so it is great to have you trying it out in the field. This is quite amazing - so much coming from the kaona of this one sentence. I can see it in my mind's eye. And I can feel how it would feel so good to be "billowed." I imagine you feel different as well when it billows versus not - perhaps a bit more ease to it? I remember the first time I gave lomi to one BIG Hawaiian - I "got" that I had to swim on his skin. As I recall, billowing ensued!

Getting back to Uncle's mana'o (thoughts) that every word has many meanings, I read this and thought of you: "Each stanza [of poetry] might contain a literal meaning, a figurative meaning, a historical or a legendary reference, a sexual meaning and a hidden meaning (kaona). As a person grew in intelligence and understanding, he would be able to grasp more and more of the deeper meanings, eventually perhaps, to his great enjoyment, comprehending the entire work in depth." (L. R. McBride, in the book The Kahuna, Versatile Mystics of Old Hawaii, p. 38)

I can hear your growing in depth, and your great enjoyment!