Huna or Ho'omana

Originally, Hawaiian massage was a sacred treatment delivered by the Hawaiian Kahunas (shaman or ‘keepers of the secret’) as a rite of passage to help a transition through a life change. Performed in a temple, the massage would often be delivered by two of more Kahunas (usually part of the recipients family) and accompanied by chanting and other rituals to produce a powerful experience and heightened awareness.

In the Huna system, a human being is made up of three Selves.

The Basic Self controls the body and emotions and gathers energy for use by the higher self. The Basic Self is the ‘mind that never sleeps’. 
 
The Higher Self  is the source of insight, inspiration and intuition. To function, the Higher Self needs Mana (energy) from the Basic Self. The Higher Self is the ‘utterly trustworthy spirit’.

The Middle Self is the conscious, waking, thinking mind that makes decisions. The Middle Self functions only during waking hours, conducting an inner monologue of thoughts and words. The Middle Self is the ‘mind that talks’.

Above the three Selves is the Aumakua, a personal helping spirit from one’s own lineage.

Hawaiian Temple Bodywork acts on the Basic Self with the aim of increasing energy levels of the body, rejuvinating the Higher Self. By working on different parts of the body simultaneously so that the Middle Self is unable to focus on the treatment, the mind is relaxed helping to bring the three Selves back into balance.