KAPAA — “Have you ever had lomi lomi by these kupuna?” Elvrine Chow of Heavenly Haku wanted to know Tuesday. “They do a really good job, and it feels so good.”
KAPAA — “Have you ever had lomi lomi by these kupuna?” Elvrine Chow of Heavenly Haku wanted to know Tuesday. “They do a really good job, and it feels so good.”
Chow supplied lei to April Christian, who formed Ke Akua Na Kupuna O Hawaii ministry on the lot situated behind her Kapaa beauty shop, April’Z Heavenly Hairstyles.
“Our goal is to reach out to our kupuna,” Christian said. “We will start complimentary lomi lomi from Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This service is by invitation only (you need to talk to kupuna to be invited), you know, the coconut wireless. This is our gift to share with na kupuna in giving back to them what our heavenly Father has blessed us with.”
Christian is joined by Mary Orozco, I‘ke Akama and Bo Kamala in heading up the corps of kupuna who come from around the island to offer complimentary lomi lomi.
Kamala sounded the pu announcing the group, and following the dedication by Pastor Matt Higa of the New Hope Church, Healani Trembath offered the oli before Tepairu Manea announced the event, and lunch.
“We will start Wednesday,” Christian said. “Brothers I‘ke and Bo wanted to do this for a long time, and we finally got it off the ground. We will try for a second date, Fridays, but at this point, we don’t know if we’re having it in Kapaa, or we’re traveling.”
Higa continued the dedication with a special blessing for the lunch offering.
“This ministry is a wonderful thing,” Higa said. “Too often, we don’t pay enough attention to our kupuna. This is a nice way to give attention to kupuna who gave a lot to bring us to this point.”
