Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 2, 1 February 2010 — he hoʻomanaʻo [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

he hoʻomanaʻo

in memoriam

Master lomilomi practitioner Aunty Margaret Machado let the sincerity of her heart flow through the body of her patients, says her daughter Nerita Machado. "She helped people by treating them with love and compassion, but she did not want to be called a healer because she believed that God did the healing and she was merely an instmment for His power," said Nerita, who carries on her mother's work as a practitioner and teacher. Margaret Kalehuamakanoelu ' ulu ' uonā pali Machado died Dec. 28, 2009, surrounded by 'ohana in Nāpo'opo'o, Hawai'i Island. She was 93. Affectionately known as Aunty Margaret, she is widely credited with bringing global prominence to lomilomi, the Hawaiian tradition of therapeutic massage. Machado treated more than 1,000 patients and taught lomilomi workshops for more than four decades. Machado's teachings would continue after class, recalls Babette Gulang, a former student. "Aunty Margaret would bring out her 'ukulele and talk story with you on a personal basis," said Gulang, complementary heahh officer with the heahh organization Papa Ola Lōkahi. "She had this aura of unconditional love. She made me see how important it is to be kind and patient and understand that every person is unique." Born in 1916 on O'ahu to C. Solomon and Elizabeth Au Solomon, Machado was orphaned young. She was given the gift of lomilomi by her maternal grandfather, John Au, an eminent practitioner of traditional Native Hawaiian medicine. Machado also trained at St. Francis Hospital to heeome a licensed practical nurse. She eventually returned to Nāpo'opo'o, married Daniel Machado Sr. and together they raised a family. In 1965 she heeame the first lomilomi practitioner and teacher to be certified by the state. In 1998 kūpuna masters, including Machado, met in Keauhou, Hawai'i Island, to address state lawmakers' efforts to regulate Native Hawaiian healing arts. The resulting landmark kahuna statement provided the basis for a future law exempting from lieensure requirements any cultural practitioner certified by special kūpuna councils. Machado's many awards include the Living Treasure of Hawai'i (1986), the Ka'onohi Award for Hawaiian Heahh (1994) and He Kuleana Aloha Award for lifetime achievement (2007). She is survived by daughters Nerita, Lana and Alohalani, and son Daniel Jr. Services will be held on O 'ahu March 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Honolulu Central Seventh-day Adventist Church on Nu'uanu Avenue. 5:30 p.m. visitation. Services will also be held on Hawai'i Island at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 7 at Kona Seventh-day Adventist Church in Captain Cook. 10 a.m. visitation. Burial to follow on March 8 at 10 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Kealakekua. Those unahle to attend may send condolences to: The Family of Margaret Machado, P.O. Box 221, Captain Cook, HI 96704. ■

Courtesy photo by Rocki Petersen Aunty Margaret Machado Aug. 21, 1916 - Dec. 28, 2009