Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders often seek the services of traditional healing practitioners (Palafox & Warren A., 1980). For Native Hawaiians, some of the commonly used traditional healing practices include
- lomilomi (massage),
- la’au lapa’au (herbal or plant-based healing),
- la’au Kahea (prayer) and
- ho’oponopono (conflict resolution).
Practitioners will invoke some or all of these components in their practices. All traditional healing practices involve prayer, the acknowledgment that healing comes from a higher power or god, a willing patient and the attempt to bring the patient back into balance or harmony
