Lomilomi is the traditional art of Hawaiian massage, an ancient practice that is renowned today for being a soothing, flowing, gentle, and relaxing experience. But to the healers of old Hawai‘i, lomilomi was much more. As documented here in oral histories of native kahuna (priest doctors) who lived in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, lomilomi was connected to almost every aspect of Hawaiian life, from pregnancy and the birthing process to lua, the ancient Hawaiian martial art. Lomilomi includes heat and water therapies, chiropractic manipulation, bone setting, and ho‘'oponopono (counseling). It can cure the most common ailments, or bring someone back from the brink of death. This book reprints virtually every published reference to lomilomi from 1779 to 2004. Essential for lomilomi students and practitioners, Na Mo'‘olelo Lomilomi delves into the historic roots, the cultural context, and the diversity of the traditional healing art. No other book has this wisdom of the kahuna. An extremely valuable contribution to the understanding of this widely misunderstood practice. -- Honolulu Advertiser, June 25, 2006 Anyone who wants to read about lomilomi, the ancient art of healing, must search long and hard to glean small pieces of information. There are no old books on lomilomi, not even whole chapters in old books. For the first time ever "Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi" compiles every piece of historical text related to lomilomi into one book. An invaluable resource, this book will be essential for students of Hawaiian culture and practitioners of lomilomi who want to know the historical roots, the cultural context and the diversity of lomilomi. "Makana Risser Chai has done a great service for those of us who have dedicated our lives to the preservation of the Hawaiian people, healing arts and culture. ... The publication of this book will be one of the landmark events of the modern history of cultural massage therapy. Numerous haumana (students) and na kumu (teachers) across the country and the globe will have access to hitherto unknown gems of wisdom which sparkle across the history of Hawaiian medicine. This publication brings forth information which had been previously inaccessible to the general public. In a special way, this book represents the moment when another kapu has been removed." - Dane Kaohelani Silva, kumu lomilomi "This book is a must for every native practitioner and all those interested in the tradition of lomilomi." - Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, Hawaiian cultural practitioner Native Hawaiian historians David Malo, Samuel Kamakau, John Papa ‘I‘i, Kepelino, Mary Kawena Pukui, and Malcolm Naea Chun provide the backbone of this book. It also features oral histories from more than 60 native healers from the 1830s to 2004. The editor, Makana Risser Chai, is a Hawai‘i licensed massage therapist, and studied with lomilomi masters Auntie Margaret and Nerita Machado. She is also the author of Hawaiian Massage Lomilomi: Sacred Touch of Aloha . She speaks and writes on traditional Hawaiian healing and stress management.