Makana’s award-winning book on lomilomi massage
“Makana 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.” — Dane Kaohelani Silva, kumu lomilomi (teacher of massage)
In her presentations, Makana shares stories of miraculous healings from Hawaiian history, sage advice from Hawaiian elders of the past and present, and techniques you can use to achieve peace of mind, body, emotion and spirit. A researcher with a book published by the Bishop Museum, she presents authentic Hawaiian culture. She also speaks on Huna.
“Beautiful & brilliant speaker. She seemed to emit true Hawaiian spirit.”
Speaking at the Hawai’i State Library
To chat with Makana to find out more, call her at 808-282-2743 or contact us.
Makana also works with a hui or group of Native Hawaiian speakers, trainers, and cultural practitioners. More…
“Makana has a gift for thorough research, putting historical facts into context, and in speaking about them, conveys a genuine warmth and aloha for Hawaiian culture and its people.” Jolene Uyehara Auvil
Makana on her graduation day with Auntie Margaret Machado and Uncle Dan
When Makana first moved to Hawai’i, she studied Hawaiian massage lomilomi with a Living Treasure of Hawai’i, Auntie Margaret Machado. Makana became inspired to learn about the history of lomilomi but found there were no books on it. She began researching and discovered previously unpublished oral histories taken between 1794 and 1934 from elders about Hawaiian healing. She compiled what she found into a book published by the Bishop Museum, Na Mo’olelo Lomilomi: Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing. That led to a second book, Hawaiian Massage Lomilomi: Sacred Touch of Aloha, which won a “Keep It Hawai’i” award from the Hawai’i Tourism Authority. Makana was made a life member of the Hawaiian Lomilomi Association in recognition of her contributions to lomilomi.
Makana has been blessed to be able to work on behalf of the Hawaiian people, having been employed for seven years in three Native Hawaiian organizations. She is a past member of the Board of Hui Mauli Ola, an organization founded in Hawaiian traditions and spiritual practices whose members are cultural practitioners committed to promoting and improving the health and well-being of our communities through providing access to quality care and educational opportunities. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hawaiian Historical Society. Founded in 1892, HHS is a private non-profit organization dedicated to preserving historical materials, presenting public lectures, and publishing scholarly research on the history of Hawai’i. It publishes the peer-reviewed Hawaiian Journal of History in which Makana authored an article on the origins of the New Age philosophy of Huna.
Makana’s Bishop Museum book
Mark and Makana
Makana is in a mixed marriage (attorney-artist) with artist and lamp designer Mark Chai. His mother, Elizabeth Pa Chai, says, “I gave her the name Makana because she is a gift to our family.”
Articles written by Makana on Hawaiian traditions.
To chat with Makana to find out more, call her at 808-282-2743 or contact us.