Exploring the Origins of Traditional Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Massage

There’s massage… and then there’s Lomi Lomi.

Traditional Old Style Hawaiian Lomi Lomi is not simply a massage technique—it is a sacred and spiritual healing art, passed through generations with reverence and integrity. It nurtures the whole being—physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual—bringing us back to a state of deep inner balance and connection.

At its core, this work is about remembrance. Remembering who we truly are beneath the layers of modern noise. Remembering what it feels like to be safely held and fully met. Remembering how to soften, release, and come home to ourselves.

A Living Lineage — Held and Honoured

This isn’t just a modality I learned—it’s a lineage I’m honoured to be part of. I trained under Dawn Charlton, who is the current lineage holder of Traditional Old Style Hawaiian Lomi Lomi. She carries this sacred body of work with immense integrity and humility, entrusted to her directly by her teacher, Kahu Sherman Dudoit, a respected Hawaiian spiritual leader and healer.

In the Hawaiian tradition, a kahu is more than a teacher—they are a guardian and caretaker of sacred knowledge. When Sherman passed the teachings on to Dawn, he did so with the deep understanding that she would continue to honour, protect, and pass them on with the same level of reverence and spirit.

Dawn is not only my teacher—she is a vessel through which the essence of this lineage flows. Her teachings are grounded in lived experience, spiritual connection, and years of devoted practice. To have received Lomi Lomi through her hands and heart is a privilege that has shaped not only how I practise, but who I am.

How Lomi Lomi Differs from Other Massage Styles

Where many forms of massage focus solely on the physical, Traditional Old Style Lomi Lomi invites healing at every level. It is intuitive, flowing, and deeply connected to the rhythms of nature. Long, continuous strokes mimic the movement of ocean waves, encouraging the nervous system to relax and the body’s energy to realign.

Every session is a ceremony. Breath, prayer (pule), and intention are integral to the practice. The practitioner listens—not only with their hands, but with their whole being—to what your body and spirit are ready to release. No two sessions are the same, because no two people—or days—are the same.

Clients often describe a feeling of being realigned not just physically, but energetically. Some experience tears, others a deep stillness, joy, or clarity. The effects reach beyond the table, rippling into life.

A Return to the Sacred

Traditional Old Style Lomi Lomi is a deeply spiritual practice. It invites you into a space of stillness and surrender, where healing can unfold naturally. We begin in silence or with quiet pule (prayer), honouring the unseen elements of the work. The space is held with presence, respect, and loving intention.

In a world that so often pulls us out of ourselves, this work gently calls us back. It offers the body a chance to exhale, the spirit a moment to be heard, and the heart a safe place to open.

Whether you're seeking relief, reconnection, or simply to feel whole again, Lomi Lomi meets you where you are—anchored in lineage, guided by spirit, and offered with deep Aloha..