The Native Hawaiian health organization, Hui Malama Ola Na ‘Oiwi, is hosting community workshops in la’au lap ‘au, lomilomi ha ha and ho’oponopono, across the Island of Hawaii starting this month.
The Native Hawaiian health organization, Hui Malama Ola Na ‘Oiwi, is hosting community workshops in la’au lap ‘au, lomilomi ha ha and ho’oponopono, across the Island of Hawaii starting this month.
“We’ve seen a very positive response and strong desire for culturally grounded health care in the Native Hawaiian communities we serve,” said Executive Director Michelle Hiraishi. “And this makes sense, because traditional Hawaiian practices like la‘au lapa‘au have kept Hawaiians healthy for generations before the arrival of Western medicine.”
Workshop attendees will learn to identify and properly use local medicinal herbs for healing. They will receive hands-on instruction in traditional Hawaiian massage. Students will also learn the ancient Hawaiian art of conflict resolution — ho‘oponopono.
Workshops will be taught by kahuna Ikaika Dombrigues, who has more than 40 years of experience in health treatment and education using traditional Hawaiian lapa‘au practices.
The workshops will be from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays, April 20, at Richardson Ocean Marine Center in Keaukaha; May 11 at Kahilu Town Hall in Waimea, and May 25 at the Imin Center in Holualoa; from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, at the Naalehu Community Center; and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, at the Pahoa Community Center.
To sign up, please contact Hui Malama Ola Na ‘Oiwi at 969-9220.
He trained under kahuna nui 0 pali Tu Sam H. Lono, hanai father kahuna pule Kawika Ka’alakea, kahuna lapa’au Harry Mitchell and kupuna Abbie Napeahi, and continues to practice the traditions and teachings of na kahuna lapa’au 0 mu Heiau 0 Lono.
“Hawaiian traditions like lapa’au make us as Hawaiian people unique, and sets this place, our Hawaii, apart from the rest of the world,” said Dombrigues. “These workshops are designed to perpetuate the traditions of these islands and its people.”
“We are very fortunate to have traditional healers like Kahuna Ikaika to share this knowledge with the Hawaii Island community,” said Hiraishi.
Hui Malama is one of five Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems created under the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act of 1988. Hui Malama provides outreach, referrals, transportation and health screening services at five offices around the island, including Hilo, Pahoa, Naalehu, Captain Cook and Waimea.