SACRED BODYWORK

Honors a great Hawaiian Lomilomi master

"Margaret Machado"

"Auntie" Margaret Kalehuamakanoelu’ulu’uanapali Machado had an international reputation for her work with Hawaiian Lomilomi.

 

“If your hands are gentle and loving, your patient will feel the sincerity of your heart and the love of God will flow through you.”  Margaret Machado

Lomilomi master Margaret Machado dead at 93 by Carolyn Lucas
 

Aunty Margaret Machado, a renowned kahuna, lomilomi master and "living treasure of Hawaii," died early Monday, December 28th, 2010 at her home in Kainaliu, where she was surrounded by family and friends. She was 93.

Margaret lived "a life of compassion, unconditional love and acceptance." A kind and patient person, she was more than willing to give straight-forward answers, as well as listen patiently without judging anyone who sought her counsel, said her daughter Nerita Machado, of Kealakekua.

Margaret also had "an extraordinary ability" to read people, get them to open up and often shared hooponopono, the respected Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness. Before sunset, she advised those involved in disputes to search their hearts, empty all of themselves, confess ill feelings or sins to God, and to ask for forgiveness and help to make things right. She often said that one couldn't sleep with a troubled mind or heart, Nerita said.

Born on Oahu to C. Solomon and Elizabeth Au Solomon, she was orphaned at a young age and raised in a missionary home. At age 10, she was blessed by her grandfather, John Au, who was a kahuna with the ability to diagnose illnesses with special pebbles and breath, as well as make medicine. He traveled on a barge in the steerage section, where cattle was kept, from Napoopoo to Honolulu to find her and reveal her destiny as a healer and teacher. He blessed her with a long chant in Hawaiian, which, at the time, she didn't understand because she only knew English because of her Christian upbringing. He named her Kalehuamakanoeluluuonapali, Nerita said.

While at McKinley High School in Honolulu, she used lomilomi to treat injured athletes. After graduation, she received nursing training from the nuns at Saint Francis Hospital and worked at a Shriners Hospital in Honolulu, Nerita said.
 

In 1939, she met and married Daniel Machado Sr. The couple raised their family in Napoopoo and helped run a store, which did not do very well because Machado didn't sell cigarettes or beer. One fond childhood memory Nerita had was not being allowed to swim in the ocean until she made 10 lei of seeds and shells, which her mother sold at Kealakekua Bay in the late 1950s.

Margaret was the first lomilomi teacher certified by the state in 1965. Nerita said she was self-taught, receiving her knowledge from the massage and anatomy books she constantly studied. By the early '70s, she taught lomilomi to students who came from around the world to stay a month at her Keei Beach home and absorb her teachings. She often told students, "If your hands are gentle and loving, your patient will feel the sincerity of your heart and the love of God will flow through you."

According to Nerita, Margaret's family initially criticized her for teaching lomilomi because they felt that it only belonged in the family. Still she continued because "once she had her mind set, that was it." But she also believed lomilomi was "love work" and God wanted her to share it.

On his second day in Hawaii in 1996, Captain Cook resident Chuck Flaherty met Margaret on the lanai of her beach house. He had come to the island to study massage and several people recommended he see Margaret.

Upon introducing himself, Margaret fondly called him Chucky. Endearingly, she also mentioned her horse behind the house had the same name as him and that she liked to feed it carrots. Later he learned the horse actually belonged to the local postmaster.

During his apprenticeship, he witnessed how Margaret made a huge difference in the lives around her and could bring people of all walks of life, races and creeds together. He called Margaret a special human being and true cultural treasure.

Besides Nerita, Margaret is survived by her daughters, Lana and Alohalani, as well as son, Daniel Jr. The family is planning to hold services in February or March and Cremation Services of West Hawaii is handling the arrangements.