By the time Lokelani Dahl places her hands on a client, decades of lived experience flow into the work—ancestral ties to Hawaiʻi, years of clinical massage training, deep immersion in Lomilomi and a lifetime of hula that shapes every movement.
Lokelani, owner of Lanilomi Massage Therapy, offers customized bodywork from her brick-and-mortar studio in Kailua-Kona and through mobile massage along the Kona Coast. Her connection to Hawaiʻi is rooted in genealogy, culture and intention.
“While I wasn’t born and raised in Hawaiʻi, my ancestral roots here run deep,” Lokelani says. Her father’s ʻohana traces back to Kohala in the late 1700s, and her grandmother, Tūtū Haʻo, was born and raised in Pāʻia, Maui.
Lokelani grew up on the U.S. East Coast but says Hawaiʻi always felt present through family and movement, a constant thread in her life. Lokelani began her journey as a Polynesian dancer at age 11 with Hālau Hula I Kona Kai in Western N.Y., training in Hawaiian, Tahitian and Māori poi ball.
Later, in her 20s, she would come to discover fire dancing and eventually perform for 15 years with Island Breeze Productions in Kailua-Kona. Today she performs independently, offering hula, Tahitian and fire dancing for private events and celebrations along the Kona Coast. That background directly influenced her massage practice.
“The fluidity, rhythm and grounded movement of hula shape the way I move around the table,” she says.
However, her journey into massage therapy began unexpectedly. As a teenager, Lokelani was in an accident while riding her bike. Though she avoided serious injury, she spent time in physical therapy and chiropractic care.
“That experience was my first introduction to how supportive and impactful therapeutic bodywork can be,” she says.
At university, Lokelani initially pursued musical theatre but found herself drawn toward physical wellness. She considered becoming a physical therapist but was encouraged to explore other options. Massage therapy, she says, felt like the right investment.
“Massage became the perfect blend of anatomy, creativity, intuition and my desire to help others feel better in their bodies,” she says.
She began her formal training at the Atlanta School of Massage, earning certifications in Neuromuscular Therapy, Integrated Massage and Deep Tissue.
In 2000, she moved to the islands to attend the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on Oʻahu. Six years later, she relocated to Hawaiʻi Island to study Lomilomi at Aunty Margaret Machado’s school in Nāpōʻopoʻo, where she gained a deeper understanding of the spiritual and cultural dimensions of the technique.
“Aunty Margaret’s lineage and teachings profoundly shaped the heart of my practice,” Lokelani says, who then decided to stay on the Big Island.
That decision shaped both her personal life and professional path. Hawaiʻi Island is where she raised her daughters, built a career in therapeutic bodywork and reconnected with the cultural traditions that guide her healing practice.
Over a 20-year career, Lokelani worked in Atlanta, Tampa and across Hawaiʻi, gaining experience in diverse settings. Today, she offers Lomilomi, deep-tissue therapy, spa services and performance-focused massage for athletes.
If you haven’t heard about it, Hawaiian Lomilomi is a holistic massage, rooted in ancient Polynesian healing. It uses long, flowing, rhythmic strokes with hands, forearms and elbows to soothe the entire body, releasing tension and promoting harmony between body, mind and spirit.
“What I love most is how the natural elements of Hawaiʻi are reflected in the experience. Ka makani (the wind), the gentle ʻala (the fragrance carried in the air), and ha (the breath of life), all invite maluhia (or peace) to flow through the session. These elements guide each treatment and support a full mind-body-spirit reset,” she says.
She also integrates dōTERRA essential oils through Symphony of the Cells protocols, allowing clients to select targeted focuses such as Hormone Balance, Inflammatory Focus, or Lymphatic Focus.
“Clients often leave feeling lighter, centered and renewed—as though they’ve been carried and cleansed by the ocean itself,” she says. “These massages are functional and performance-focused.”
For clients new to massage, Lokelani recommends a 90-minute Lomilomi session. This length allows the body to fully relax. “Lomilomi is gentle, grounding and profoundly restorative.”
As a mother of two, including a child with multiple disabilities, she shares that her journey shaped her approach to care. “This lived experience has made me a more sensitive, compassionate and intuitive therapist.”
Her message to readers is simple and intentional: “Your well-being is worth prioritizing,” Lokelani says. “Sometimes transformation begins with simply slowing down and allowing yourself to receive care.”
For mobile services, Lanilomi Massage Therapy covers Captain Cook, Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa Beach Resort, Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea Resort, Hualālai, Kūkiʻo, Waimea and the surrounding areas. “I bring everything needed to create a calm, spa-like experience right in the comfort of your home, hotel or vacation rental.”
Learn more at Lanilomi.com | IG: @lanilomi.
“Ka makani (the wind), the gentle ʻala (the fragrance carried in the air), and ha (the breath of life), all invite maluhia (or peace) to flow through the session. These elements guide each treatment and support a full mind-body-spirit reset.”