“I have been doing massage since I was 14 years old when, as a competitive athlete, I began massaging my teammates and my hands intuitively knew how to make people feel better. At a young age, I knew that was my calling.
For several years I only massaged family, friends, and teammates. Shortly after I moved to Hawaii and was volunteering at Queen Emma’s Summer Palace, I was told about a Kahuna named Aunty Margaret who was designated a living treasure of the State of Hawaii for her knowledge and sharing of cultural wisdom. (Read Aunty’s story here).
I took the one-month massage training in Ke’ei. That experience at Aunty Margaret’s was stellar! I received a blessing from Aunty Margaret that changed my life when she told me, “Jennifer, you have love in your hands.” Upon graduating in March 1999, she asked me to stay on as her apprentice. For 2 years I lived in a tent with my 100-pound Doberman, had only cold, brackish water showers, and was far removed from society – no television, no cell reception, no address, and no mail; life was bliss…the old Hawaiian way. It was eight miles to the nearest anything. As an apprentice, I helped teach classes, worked on Aunty, and performed caretaking jobs around the property. I also did apprentice massages on travelers from all over the world who came to meet Aunty and experience Lomilomi. In 2000, I graduated from the advanced massage class and in 2002 I passed the state licensing exam. Massage makes my heart happy.
~ Jennifer Stabrylla