SOME of my FAVORITE
BOOKS
on HAWAIIAN HEALING & CULTURE
Many books on healing and on Hawaiian culture have helped me
to develop my skills and sensitivity as a healer, a massage
practitioner and a lomilomi practitioner. What a wealth of
inspiration and information is contained within the covers of these
books! I hope that you will love and benefit from them as I
have.I offer my deep gratitude to the many authors represented here who have applied themselves to putting their stories and wisdom down onto paper and thereby contributing to the creation of global community as we share our cultures with each other.
biographies by & about Hawaiian
healers
Change
We Must, My Spiritual Journey
by Nana VearyI have read this autobiographical book repeatedly. It's full of love and wisdom, and I return to it whenever I need a reminder to ground me in love.
Click here to read more about Change We Must, and to add your own comments.
Clouds
of Memories
by Mona KaheleClouds of Memories is Mona Kahele's story. Mona was a native Hawiaian community leader who began writing as a child and continued throughout her life, documenting her own life story as well as rich cultural and historical information. This is a juicy book to read, a real delight!!
Click here to read more about Clouds of Memory, and to add your own comments.
Voices
of Wisdom: Hawaiian Elders Speak
by MJ Harden with photography by Steve BrinkmanI especially love this book and go back to it over and over again. It contains magazine length articles about 24 Hawaiian elders, complete with marvelous photos. The author personally interviewed each of the highlighted elders. http://www.lomilomi-massage.org/book-voices-of-wisdom.html
The book is divided into these eight sections: nature, spiritually and healing, preservation and history, activism, dance-chant-geneology-music, arts and crafts, canoe and the next generation. One of the highlighted elders is Aunty Margaret Machalo, from whose lineage Mana Lomi® developed.
Click here to read more about Voices of Wisdom,and to add your own comments.
A
Hawaiian Life
by George Kahumoku Jr.This autobiographical book tells the story of his healing. A 125 page book, it's a fun, warm and easy read book.
books about lomilomi
Hawaiian
Lomilomi Big Island Massage,
by Nancy KahalewaiI have used this book as a foundation text book for lomilomi classes I have taught in massage schools. It's written in an easy to read manner and is a wonderful introduction to the history of traditional lomilomi from the Big Island and to Hawaiian concepts related to our bodies, health and healing.
I also appreciate the chapter introducing the many well known and revered Hawaiian healers of the past 50 years. Finally, this book has an interesting final chapter discussing the introduction and development of Temple style lomi.
Click here to read more about Hawaiian Lomilomi, Big Island Massage, and to add your own comments.
Wise
Secrets of Aloha by Harry Uhane Jim and Garnette ArledgeKahuna Harry Uhane Jim is a healer from Kauai currently sharing the lomilomi training of his lineage with many people both on the US mainland and in Hawaii. His work encompasses both the physical and esoteric spiritual realms. This book is primarily told in story format, making it fun and easy to read. It includes testimonies from many people who have experienced Harry's work and teaching.
Click here to read more about Wise Secrets of Aloha, and to add your own comments.
Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi, the Traditions of
Hawaiian Massage and Healing
edited and with an introduction by R Makana Risser ChaiThis research book on the history of lomilomi can be a slow read, but the rewards are rich! It connects us with treasured voices from the past. This book is an extensive compliation source information gleaned from newspapers and historical archives of the 1800s. I highly recommend it for serious students of lomilomi.
Click here to read more about Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi, and to add your own comments.
Hawaiian
Massage: Lomilomi, sacred touch of aloha by R Makana Risser Chai with photography by John C. Kalani ZakThis coffee table picture book highlights both current and "over the rainbow" Hawaiian practitioners of lomilomi.
Click here to read more about Hawaiian Massage Lomilomi, and to add your own comments.
books on Hawaiian spirituality & healing practices
Man,
God, and Nature by Michael Kioni DudleyOver a period of several years I had to re-start reading this 150 page book several times before I could get through the description near the beginning of the book of the Hawaiian view of the Universe. As a Westerner who was raised visualizing our earth as round, and as a person who has difficulty with spacial directions like left and right, I was totally lost by his spacial descriptions of the Hawaiian view of the universe.
However, once I got past the third chapter, I was deeply touched by his description of the relationship between people, nature and Spirit. I 'got' the experience of relating to beings in nature just as I relate to people. I 'got' the feel of plants, animals and elements being conscious beings.. Because of this book I now experience plants in a special, personal way.
Na
Pule Kahiko
by June GutmanisThis scholarly book contains many Hawaiian prayers in Hawaiian, translated to English, and with accompanying commentary. It reads like a reference book so I consult it occasionally when I have a particular interest, but have never read it from cover to cover.
Hawaiian
Religion and Magic
by Scott CunninghamThis book is written for the lay person and introduces the people and deities of Hawaii, aspects of traditional Hawaiian culture and religion, and what the author (and some other people) identify as magic and sorcery. The author has studied and written numerous books about magic and witchcraft in various parts of the world.
Ho'oponopono
by E Victoria Shook
This book explores the use of the traditional Hawaiian family oriented
process of ho'oponopono in different contemporary settings outside of
Hawaii. It presents ho'oponopono as a problem solving
process. Written from the perspective of a social worker,
this is indeed an interesting book.
Zero
Limits, The Secret Hawaiian System for Wealth, Health, Peace, and More
by Joe Vitale and Ihaleakala Hew Len
This book explores one manifestion of ho'oponopono. The book
and related workshops have made a BIG marketing splash and
hav eintroduced the concept of ho'opono to many people world
wide..
The line of
ho'oponopono explored in this book comes through the lineage of Mornah
Simeaona whom my kumu Maka'ala Yates identifies as one of
his particularly influential teachers. I appreciate the overlap in
concepts between my studies with Maka'ala and the content of this book.
However, while I am fascinated by the book's content, Vitale's writing
voice and style don't sit well with me. None the
less I persevered in completing the book and for me the gold
came at the end.
Click here
to go to Zero Limit's website.
Hawaiian
Herbal Medicine, Kahuna La'au Lapa'au by June Tutmanis
The bulk of this carefully researched book is an encyclopedic like
description of herbs used for healing in Hawaii, including descriptions
of the plants, full page color illustrations and discussions of illness
and recipes for use of the herbs.
I especially enjoyed the first part of the book which is told in story format. I get a feel for all aspects of life related to illness, health and healing by reading this book.
HA
- Breathe! by Elithe Manuha'aipo Kahn, PHDThis slim book explores the three different uses of breathe in healing and in meditation. Noho pu is a passive meditative contemplation which opens the pathway to ho'ike - enlightenment. 'A'ala ha, active meditative contemplation, uses repetitive o'ono chants to manifest personal desires and enhance health through revitalizing and toning the internal organs. Ho'omana, storing breath work, builds mana, energy and personal power to overcome life challenges.
Click here to go to Elithe Manuha'aipo Kahn's website.
books focused on Hawaiian values
Managing
with Aloha by Rosa Say
This book inspires me to treat my massage clients, colleagues, students
and teachers with the same care and respect I treat my family and
friends. Author Rose Say shows how business managers working
in the Hawaiian hospitality industry can use Hawaiian values to enhance
the quality of life for both their employees and guests and how this
will naturally lead to their businesses to prosper. What she
writes is applicable to all of us!
Click here to go to Rosa Say's website.
Ku
Kanaka by George Ku'eu Sanford Kanahele
George Kanahele explores the question "Who and what is a Hawaiian?"
While it's a slow read, this fascinating and in depth book
held my attention all the way through it's 500 pages. The six
sections are titled: Religion-Mythology-and-Ritual,
Space-Time-and-Place, Science-and-Technology, Economics,
Leadership-and-Politics, and the-Aloha0Society. Author
Kanahele is a Hawaiian born and raised and internationally educated and
traveled scholar.
Hawaiian history books
Nana
i ke Kumu (Look to the Source),
volumes 1 and 2 by Pukui, Haertig and LeeThis two volume book is very rich and is the combined work of a group of dedicated people over a number of years. Volume 1 is organized like an encyclopedia making it easy to look up information on many various aspects of Hawaiian culture. Volume two is a bit longer and is organized thematically. The themes include: childhood, man & woman, holiness & healing, dreams & symbols, qualities of aggression, shame & guilt, extrasensory perception, and finally self image.
Both volumes are a must read for any serious student of lomilomi, particularly those who did not grow up immersed in Hawaiian culture and tradition.
Ancient Hawaii, Pele, Goddess of Hawaii's Volcano and Voyagers, all by Herb Kane
Herb Kane is a historical artist who creates paintings and picture books for adults. For me, his books are the most effective, easily available way there is to get a real feel and taste for life in Hawaii in previous times.
Click here to go to Herb Kane's website.
Na
Kaikamahine 'o Haumea, Daughters of Haumea, Women of Ancient Hawai'i,
by Lucia Tarallo JensenThis book is a treasure trove of information about women in Hawaii before the 1819 abrogation of the kapu system. It is artfully done with beautiful photos by Lucia's daughter Natalie Mahina Jensen. It is a scholarly book best read a chapter at a time. My favorite chapter is the one on physiotherapy.
Tales from the Night Rainbow
by Pali J. Lee and Koko WillisThis book is told in first person voice of a woman named Kaili'li'ohe who lived on Moloka'i in the 1800's as recorded by her children and grandchildren. It is authored by her great grandson Koko and his wife Pali. This book tells the story of family customs and responses to historical events of the time. Told as it is in first person, reading it feels easy like listening to my own grandmother telling stories of her youth. It includes the now widely known story of the Bowl of Light.
Ho'opono ~ the Hawaiian Way to Put Things Back
into Balance by Pali J. Lee This content in this book overlaps that in Tales from the Night Rainbow by the same author. In my mind these two books blend together. Ho'opono picks up some of the same themes introduced in Tales of the Night Rainbow and carries them from the past into current time. Like Tales of the Night Rainbow, this book is also written in the first voice, but it is the direct voice of author Pali J. Lee rather than the voice of her husband's great grandmother. These books are both all about goodness. I smile and slow down reading them.
Moloka'i and The
Stone Kannon
by A.O. BushnellI love these historical novels, and recommend anything Mr. Bushnell has written! (He's written several more historical novels which I haven't yet read.)
The Stone Kannon follows Japanese immigrant laborers from Japan to Hawaii in 1868. Molokai'i tells the story of the leper colony on Moloka'i. Both books offer gripping tales of the highs and lows of being human.
Shark
Dialogues
by Kiana DavenportThis epic feminine saga focuses on a Hawaiian family and is a historical novel set in Hawaii in the 1800s. The author does a great job of bringing history and strong people alive!
non-Hawaiian books about ways to care for our bodies that have helped me
8 steps to a Pain Free Back
by Esther Gokhale: This book teaches the basics of
how
to move and to rest: how
to sit, stand, lie, walk and lift. It has helped me immensely
to
improve my posture. I recommend it to all of my massage clients and
students. CLICK here TO READ MY EXPANDED REFLECTIONS AND RECOMMENDATION OF THIS BOOK..
Click here to go to Esther Gokhale's website.
The
Art
of Breathing, Six Simple Lessons to Improve Performance,
Health
and Wellbeing, by Nancy Zi:
I've used this book to help me come to better know my breath,
and
to breath more gently and fully. It was easy for me to
follow.
Although she also sells a related DVD, I prefer learning from
the
book because I can go at my own pace.
What's your favorite book
about healing and/or Hawaiian culture?
SHARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, PLEASE!
Could you use a few ideas to start your creative juices flowing?
* Open with a juicy, attention grabbing thought. This will appear below in the summary.
* Tell us how this book influenced your life.
* Tell us how this book touched your heart.
* Tell us what you like about this book.
* Tell us what made this book easy or hard for you to read.
* Tell us about the book's author.
EDITING: I may correct spelling and grammar errors and may make minor changes to wording for clarity.
Would you like to include a link to your website? I am usually happy to include a link to your website with your review. (I'll need to edit the link in.) Can you provide a link into my website? I'd appreciate that!
|
As seen
in....
|
 |
| Subscribe to my newsletter to receive news of massage classes! |