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best books for understanding lomilomi and Hawaiian healing

What books have you found most useful or inspiring for understanding lomilomi and the larger culture of Hawaiian healing?

If I had to pick one, it would be "Nana i ke Kumu: Look to the Source," volumes 1 and 2, by Mary Kawena Pukui, Haertig and Lee. Written in a conversational style, these books come from a woman who was trained by her grandmother, a kahuna pule in the Pele line who also knew lomilomi, and her grandfather, a kahuna pale keiki in the Lono line. They cover many things, including herbal medicine, midwifery, ho'oponopono, sacred sexuality, dreams and symbols, and much much more. My only regret is she does not discuss lomilomi!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on November 17, 2009 at 8:25am

Well of course I have enjoyed yours!

I also Love Nana Veary's Change We must and Currently I am reading Sacred Path of the Huna.
I would love to read Nana i ke Kumu. Thanks for the recommendation!

Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on November 17, 2009 at 3:37pm

Mahalo Makana for explaining the details about the "huna" book! Much gratitude. I wondered??
I have ordered the ones you recommended as well. Can't wait to get them!
Such a blessing to have you as a resource!

For those of you seeking a book that not only explains the origins of Lomi, but also goes into the tradtions of hawaiian healing medicines Get Makana's book : "Na Mo olelo Lomilomi!

She also have a beautiful hard cover book that is filled with amazing photographs of hawaiian elders and local lomilomi practitioners where you can visually see the essence of lomi. It's beautiful to display in your waiting area and show clients the photos too! Along with the photos are "quotes" from these hawaiian practitioners that you will also enjoy.

Mahalo Makana!

Makana Risser Chai said:

Gloria asked me where Nana i ke Kumu is available besides amazon, where they want $75! You can find it here for $12. http://www.nativebookshawaii.com

Yes, Change We Must is a treasure! It is written by a kupuna who grew up with her grandparents who spoke only Hawaiian and lived a traditional life on the shores of what is now Pearl Harbor. I love the story about how her grandmother knew and fed the shark goddess, and not only talked with her plants, but they talked to her.

The Sacred Path of Huna is filled with errors, starting with the fact that the author does not have a Ph.D. in Hawaiian Shamanism (she is from England and her degree is in geography) and many, many, many mistakes about Hawaiian history, culture, traditions and even mistakes of geography! (She says the east side of the island of Hawai'i is dry, the west side wet.) Personally, I don't recommend Huna books because they are not from the source. Nana i ke kumu is not only the name of a book, it is a proverb - look to the source, the root, the Hawaiians.

Permalink Reply by Steve Ibach on December 4, 2009 at 8:25am

Aloha All - I am far from an expert but I wrote an article about the seven sacred Hawaiian principles and I used a book by Serge Kahili King as my source. The title ISBN and other information is in the article for those interested. Mahalo.

Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on December 4, 2009 at 12:11pm

Makana
Thanks so much for referring me to Nana I Ke Kumu. Got both volumes and working on studying!
Very blessed to be connecting with the source as I know there is so much more . Mahalo !

Permalink Reply by Makana Risser Chai on December 4, 2009 at 12:47pm

Great Gloria! I was just walking on the beach here in Hawai'i and wondered how you were doing with the books. I was thinking I would recommend starting with Volume 2, as it gives more of the big picture, and then dip into ho'oponopono in Volume 1. Good fun!

Permalink Reply by Gary Lloyd on December 4, 2009 at 12:56pm

I am reading "Wise Secrets of Aloha" by Kahuna Harry Uhane Jim and Garnette Arledge. From my perspective and recently being introduced to Lomi Lomi, I find it very informative about the way of life that Lomi Lomi is, and that it is very connected to spirit. Garnette writes from the perspective of one who has been treated with Lomi Lomi and Harry explains the background of the Lomi Lomi healer. It includes many of his own stories about how he came to learn the Lomi Lomi principles from his teachers. There are many step-by-step instructions about how to become part of the lifestyle that is Lomi Lomi. There is no instruction on any massage techniques. It teaches about being and listening to guidance through spirit.

Permalink Reply by Makana Risser Chai on February 6, 2010 at 1:28pm

Gloria, how are you doing with Nana i ke kumu?

Gary, what I love about that book is you just feel his aloha bubbling up. It is so sweet! There is a saying in Hawai'i, "Not all wisdom is taught in one school." There are 3 other books on lomilomi which will give you insight into the many different "schools" of wisdom.

Permalink Reply by Gary Lloyd on February 24, 2010 at 9:19am

Makana,
I feel like the saying - "The more I learn, the less I know". And it is difficult to remember all that I read in the first place! So I often go back through a book to review the pronciples that are presented.

What are the other three books that present other schools of wisdom?

Makana Risser Chai said:

Gloria, how are you doing with Nana i ke kumu?

Gary, what I love about that book is you just feel his aloha bubbling up. It is so sweet! There is a saying in Hawai'i, "Not all wisdom is taught in one school." There are 3 other books on lomilomi which will give you insight into the many different "schools" of wisdom.

Permalink Reply by Makana Risser Chai on February 24, 2010 at 12:29pm

Gary, that is my favorite quote! I do re-read books over and over, because the more I learn the more I understand of what went over my head the first few times.

Nancy Kahalewai's book, Hawaiian Lomilomi: Big Island Massage is more of a how-to with a complete lomilomi protocol demonstrated. She also includes great stories about some of the master kumu or teachers of lomilomi.

The Bishop Museum published a book I edited of oral histories from kahuna about lomilomi and Hawaiian healing. It has chapters on prayer and ho'oponopono or forgiveness, massage, osteopathy (physical therapy and bone-setting), cleansing (colonics), heat and water therapies, midwifery and pre- and post-natal care. It's entitled Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi: Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing.

The last book is one I published called Hawaiian Massage Lomilomi: Sacred Touch of Aloha. This one is really designed for people new to lomilomi and for our clients who ask, "What's so special about lomilomi?" It has the best quotes from the Bishop Museum book, plus some other great quotes from some of our contemporary kumu, paired with pictures of the kumu doing lomilomi. It's not a how to but a "why to."

Though not a lomilomi book, I just have to mention Tales from the Night Rainbow. This classic story of the last kaula or prophetess of Molokai gives tremendous insight into the ancient Hawaiian ways. It is more like Harry Jim's book in the sense that it is more about the culture and feeling than about lomilomi itself. However, this book is one of the most authentic (that is, not influenced by modern ideas) you can find today.

Enjoy!

Permalink Reply by Harry Uhane Jim on September 3, 2011 at 3:56pm

Gary Lloyd said:

I am reading "Wise Secrets of Aloha" by Kahuna Harry Uhane Jim and Garnette Arledge. From my perspective and recently being introduced to Lomi Lomi, I find it very informative about the way of life that Lomi Lomi is, and that it is very connected to spirit. Garnette writes from the perspective of one who has been treated with Lomi Lomi and Harry explains the background of the Lomi Lomi healer. It includes many of his own stories about how he came to learn the Lomi Lomi principles from his teachers. There are many step-by-step instructions about how to become part of the lifestyle that is Lomi Lomi. There is no instruction on any massage techniques. It teaches about being and listening to guidance through spirit.

Permalink Reply by Harry Uhane Jim on September 4, 2011 at 7:30pm

Gota go with, it depends on what you want. My book 'wise secrets of Aloha' is linage and spiritual, and actually the only one written in the first person. Makana Chai is a compiled version of the work. Karen k has the big island version, and so the best is for what?..... Looking for routine. karen, looking for community, and insparation of community, she's the one, looking for depth of heart, and never documented before life style understandings, ,... it's Mine. All three, is going to end up in your hands if you hang around the feild so much.... i teach,. karen is video,some teach Makana organizes,..offers services as speaker but no touch engagement with students. My Hauman'students' always bring all three, acually.. these kinds of books are read over and over, as they change as your brain makes more room for aloha. evolve. and each one of us, take phone calls! aloha nui.

Many other kumu with vast followings have video routine, these students come to course with integrative attitude. i'm for that. 30 years in professional practice. sometimes sore, and boring same same. ok. thanks.

Permalink Reply by Harry Uhane Jim on September 4, 2011 at 7:43pm

Yes, Nani I Ke Kumu look to the source.... is a great one. my heart has space for this women immortal,.... and Hank Wiesseman, wrote one just as impact full, not Recognized by Makana at all. it is of a man, Veteran, all knew and loved in my town of pahoa, hawaii. This has been recent. and takes on what Nana i ke Kumu leaves off. Family trained, and in the lineage of respected knowledge holders, Hale Makua, picked The author to convert his knowledge to the greater world. Be Blessed for the waihine choice or the kane choice... or woman, or man expression of healing in the hawaiian eye.