I had the honor of studying with Aunty Margaret Machado in the Spring of 2002. Aunty is known as the Kapuna of Hawaiian Lomilomi massage. She is revered as one of the first Hawaiians to teach lomilomi outside their ohana. Aunty was the first state licensed teacher to teach Hawaiian lomilomi. She lived from 8/21/16--12/28/09.

Aunty offered her classes on her porch in South Kona on the Big Island, where students would stay in tents on the oceanfront grounds for a month long lomilomi training. This training included not only lomilomi massage techniques and anatomy, but also traditions like hot steam/cold plunges, lei making, the practice of Ho’oponopono, or right thought, forgiveness, and more.

I’ll always remember Aunty’s assistant/friend Pili, who was also an elder, giving me a note/Blessing saying that she could see a pink light shining off of my arms as I did lomilomi. I still have that note!

It was a great honor to study with Aunty Margaret.

I have practiced Hawaiian Lomilomi Massage since 2001, when I took my 1st of four Lomilomi classes (so far). Pictured here is my 2nd Hawaiian Lomilomi class, taken with Aunty Margaret Machado in 2002, who I will write about in a separate blog post. I now offer lomilomi massage in Hawaii on Maui, after finally moving here in 2024. Who knew when I began my lomilomi massage journey 23 years prior that it would lead me to eventually doing Massage and Watsu on Maui? I’m so grateful and honored to live here and practice this beautiful work.

Lomilomi, sometimes simply referred to as lomi, is performed as a prayer, or pule, over the body. In ancient Hawaiian tradition, lomilomi was always preceded by cleansing and pule. I always take a moment to clear my energy, ground myself, and offer a short, silent pule before giving a lomilomi massage, including loving, honoring, and respecting the body & being I’m working with.

Known as “loving touch," Hawaiian lomilomi massage is often oceanic, flowing, and rhythmic, with long forearm strokes covering the entirety of the body. There are many styles of lomilomi, depending upon which family (ohana), kupuna (respected elders), kumu (teacher)…While there are varying styles, lomilomi is always done with Aloha and Loving Touch. I am honored to offer this work on Maui.

Prenatal Massage, or Hapai in Hawaiian, has many benefits. It can help alleviate aches & pains, reduce swelling & leg cramps, reduce stress in both the mother & baby, & improve blood circulation. Prenatal Massage also helps to moisturize the skin and can aid in better sleep. Women can have Prenatal Massages throughout their pregnancy, starting from the time they learn they are pregnant up until delivery. Postpartum massage has huge benefits for new mothers as well.

The sidelying technique is used to comfortably position pregnant women with pillows supporting them, & a wedge is used when they are face up so that they are never lying flat on their back. Acupressure points may be included in Hapai massage once a woman has reached 38 weeks, to gently nudge labor along if desired. Induction massages are not an “eject baby” button but can be effective in encouraging a labor to begin if the body is ready.

I have specialized in Prenatal Massage since 2001, & was also a Birth & Postpartum Doula for over a decade. I have taken & helped teach several Prenatal Massage classes, including a Hawaiian Lomilomi Hapai course on Oahu. I absolutely love working with the Prenatal & Postpartum population on my massage table & in the water for Watsu. On Maui, I offer Prenatal Massage (Hapai) in clients’ homes, in an office in Kihei or Paia, or in Wailuku at my Watsu pool, where you can have a Watsu session immediately followed by a poolside Prenatal Massage.

I took a 12 hour Lymphatic Drainage class last week in Paia, Maui, taught by the lovely Veetkaya. It was a small group of us Maui massage therapists in the course & was a good introduction to the work. It is VERY subtle, light work. I enjoyed the class!

Now offering Watsu sessions in Wailuku, Maui on weekday mornings between 8:30 & 11am, & on weekends between 4 & 6:30pm. I charge $150 for a 1 hour Watsu, & $175 for 75 minutes. I offer a $10 cash discount, as well as $10 off for locals.

I have been a Certified Watsu Practitioner for 20 years. This amazing work stretches & massages the body in warm water. Singing bowls may be added to your Watsu session on Maui for an extra $20. Come experience floating bliss!

Add singing bowls to your Reiki, Massage or Watsu session on Maui. For some, sound baths can be healing and transformative. You are in a safe and welcoming space, connecting with your breath, hearing and feeling vibrations from instruments aiming to calm your nervous system and open your heart. Bowls may be placed on the body, both on the massage table and in the water for Watsu.

Singing bowls may be included in your mobile massage on Maui, or in one of my massage offices in Kihei or Paia. The addition of singing bowls can be a wonderful for a Reiki session too. When using singing bowls in my Watsu sessions on Maui, I will wait until you are floating in liquid bliss, and then I may begin placing Tibetan bowls on your open palms, belly, &/or heart. There may also be large Tibetan bowls gonged underwater beneath you, that you can both hear and feel in your body.

I’m moving to Maui on 10/17! I’ll still be coming back to CA to work in both Campbell & Soquel every couple of months. My 1st dates back in CA are 11/22—12/2.

I recently took the MBLEX (National Massage exam, not required in CA) & the Hawaii State Massage exam (they have their own besides the MBLEX) & am proud to say that I passed both on the 1st try. My intention is to move to Maui in early November, & to come to CA every 2-3 months to work on my CA massage clients.

I finally got to take Healing Dance Underwater Basics with the fabulous Inika on the Big Island in January. I had wanted to study with her for 15+ years, and it was worth the wait. This work involves submerging clients under the surface (they wear noseclips) where they are stretched, massaged, & rocked in body temperature water.

I’m temporarily stopping sales of Massage Gift Cards because I’m planning a trial relocation starting in February. I will likely return to CA by early May, 2024, & stay at least for the Summer & early Fall.

Scuba & I got to share our lives for nearly 16 years. Many of my clients will miss him being under the massage table. It was the honor of my life to be Scuba’s Mom & best friend.

Research has shown that CBD can reduce inflammation, soothe muscles, and have a positive effect on pain, anxiety, and sleep. My locally made CBD of choice features a combination of six herbs along with organic hemp CBD (no THC). Slip into a deeper state of relaxation with a CBD massage for an extra $10.

Gift Certificates for massage make a wonderful holiday gift! They can be purchased by clicking on the Gift Certificate image on the home page of my website. Gift Certificates expire 1 year from purchase date.

My Santa Cruz office has moved to 5905 Soquel Dr. & I can’t wait for you to see this great new space! I’m also still in Campbell, & still doing mobile massage.

I’m excited about my new massage office in Campbell. Come see me for an excellent massage in a beautiful, quiet space.

Any purchase made before 1/1/2021 will now expire on 12/31/21, including credits, Gift Certificates, & old packages. Any new Gift Certificate purchases now have a 1 year expiration date.

I am still offering some mobile massages but needed to raise my mobile rates, & am now trying to have a 2-client minimum for an in-home setup, especially if farther than 20 minutes from me.

I’m thrilled to now be renting an office at Epic Living on 38th Ave. in Santa Cruz! I’m still doing mobile massage as well, & still have an office in Los Gatos.