Lomilomi is practiced as healing and restorative art and comes from the Hawaiian Islands. Lomilomi is a holistic healing tradition beyond simple massage and practitioners may ask their clients to pray, meditate, change their diets, and engage in other self-help activities usually believed to lie outside the scope of massage.  .

Lomilomi is rooted in the philosophy Huna.  The fundamental assumption of Huna is that everything seeks love and harmony. Lomilomi is an expression of that philosophy that works the muscles deeply and gently. The belief is not only does the work of the hands help heal the body, but that the work of the caring heart also aids in helping the body. Similar to Shiatsu, there is a belief that the body's energy can get blocked and that massage will help the energy flow again.

The lomilomi technique utilizes long, continuous, flowing strokes that relax the body. The massage is given in rhythmic fluid motions that have been described as gentle waves. Different parts of the masseuse's body may be used in the treatment including the palms, forearm, fingers, knuckles, elbows, knees, and feet to massage the patient..

The recipient of the treatment lays directly on the vinyl of the table and not on a towel this is because lomilomi utilizes lotions and oils. Rather than being covered completely by towels, a small sheet is used leaving most of the body exposed during the massage. This makes it a lot easier to perform the underbody and full body strokes without interrupting the flow of the massage.

Sometimes the recipient may experience an emotional release as the massage can release and shift negative emotions, negative beliefs and other "stuff" that has been stored in the cells of the body, with the healing effects of the massage continuing long after the massage is over.