Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 9, 1 September 2000 — Kalua Kaiahua, healer, leader, passes [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kalua Kaiahua, healer, leader, passes

By Manu Boyd

Kalua kaiahua, known to many as "Papa Kalua," renown in ihe art of Hawaiian healing and lomilomi, passed away Aug. 3. Born on Moloka'i. Kaiahua grew up in Kalihi, raised a faraily in 'Aiea, and eventuallv

returned to Maui. i According to his student and cousin Keonaona Neilson, he began teaching his healing arts in i the early '90s, flying to O'ahu weekly. "He'd spend his morning visiting people in hospitals. By 11:30 a.m., he'd be up at 'Aiea.

ready for his students," she said of Kaiahua who maintained a home on O'ahu. "He learned from his blind aunt, Annie Uesugi. who taught him that the gift of healing comes from God. lt was a combination of his skill, faith and sense of humor that

was so effective in his healing. He was dearly loved." As a participant in OHA's "E Ho'omau i ka Lomilomi" conference in 1994, Kaiahua joined other Hawaiian healers including Margaret Machado and

Mary Fragas. in an enlightening presentation on the art of traditional massage and healing. In 1995, Kaiahua's non-profit organizaiton, Ho'ohāiike Ko Kahiko Hou Lā'au Lapa'au Ine.

reccived an OHA grant to train Native Hawaiians īn Lomilomi. Kaiahua is survived by a large family including his wife Annettc, two sons, five daughtcrs. four brothers, two sisters, 22 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren . ■

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Kalua Kaiahua 1935-2000