R. Makana Risser Chai (born Rita M. Risser on April 15, 1953) is a researcher and author of two books on Hawaiian massage or lomilomi.

Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi: Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing (Bishop Museum Press, 2005) is the first book on lomilomi to be published by a major publisher. It is a documentary history compiling published accounts of lomilomi since 1779, and unpublished oral histories from native healers collected by the Bishop Museum and state archives from 1867 to the 1930s.

Hawaiian Massage Lomilomi: Sacred Touch of Aloha (Hawaiian Insights, 2007) received a 2008 Keep It Hawai'i award from the Hawai'i Tourism Authority for its authentic portrayal of Hawaiian cultural traditions. It is a photographic book with more than 100 pictures of historic and contemporary practitioners, coupled with inspirational quotes about the elements of lomilomi including love of the land, prayer, breath, forgiveness (ho'oponopono), and loving touch. The photographer is Emmy Award-winner John C. Kalani Zak.

Chai is the co-author, with kumu or teacher Dane Kaohelani Silva, of the chapter on lomilomi from the Mosby book, Massage Modalities (Elsevier Press, 2008).

She graduated from the University of California Berkeley, AB with honors, 1975, and Juris Doctor, 1978. From 1980 to 1990 she was the sole proprietor of Employment Rights Attorneys in San Jose, California, and from 1990 to 2004 the CEO of the Silicon Valley training company, Fair Measures. She is married to artist Mark Chai.

[edit] References

• 2008 Keep It Hawai'i recipients http://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/index.cfm?page=what_pd_hawaiian_keep&level1=what_we_do&level2=what_pd_overview

• Spirit of Aloha magazine, "Feeling Good All Over," January-February 2008

• Honolulu Weekly, "You Can't Learn This Stuff," November 12, 2007

• Honolulu Advertiser, "Lomilomi More Than Massage," June 25, 2006

• Risser, Rita. Stay Out of Court: The Manager's Guide to Preventing Employee Lawsuits (Prentice Hall, 1993)

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