The origin of Hawaiian massage

In France, little is known about the history of Kahuna, which is primarily a family history of healers.

The kupuna (Elders) identified the children's talents and chose the one who would perpetuate the tradition. The Kahunad differs slightly depending on the island and the ohana (family), but all are linked by the loving touch, this intention of love, compassion, and kindness.

During the various waves of colonization experienced by Hawaii, Hawaiian traditions and rituals were often kapu, meaning completely forbidden, sometimes under penalty of heavy fines. Despite this, Hawaiians continued to practice them in secret and always within their families. It was only in the 1970s that Aunty Margaret Machado, a teacher on the Big Island, decided to share her knowledge with outsiders for the first time, as the tradition was dying out on the islands. It is largely thanks to her that Kahuna has since spread throughout the world.

In practice, the ancestral Hawaiian healing system consists of three main elements: Kahunai, ho'oponopono

(or conflict resolution) and la'au lapa'au, that is, the use of medicinal plants. To this day, Hawaiian practitioners still use all three modalities together, and in the past, Kahuna was often associated with other purifying rituals such as steam baths, sea baths, dietary detox, and the consumption of seawater. But what truly differentiates Kahuna from other types of massage, and what is rarely discussed outside the archipelago, is its spiritual dimension. Yet, this is the very essence of authentic Kahuna!