Answers to Common Massage Treatment Questions

What should I wear to my session? At NIU Hawai’i, no clothing is required to be removed. Please wear comfortable, flexible clothing (such as athletic wear) that allows for a full range of motion and direct therapeutic application through the fabric.

To ensure the work is effective while you remain clothed, we use a simple 1, 2, & 3 Number Scale:

1.  Increase the depth or focus.
2.  Perfect; stay here.
3. Too intense; please adjust or lighten the application.

We utilize two medical-grade platforms to ensure your data is siloed and HIPAA-protected: Jane for direct online reservations and Ivy Pay for personalized scheduling. Both systems facilitate a high-security, professional experience.

A secure card facilitates a contactless checkout, allowing you to depart in a state of “reset” without the interruption of a manual transaction. It also upholds our clinical commitment: cancellations within 24 hours or missed appointments are charged the full session fee. For insurance coordination, a Clinical Coordination Fee is applied to cover administrative oversight.

We require 24-hour notice for any changes. Missed appointments or late cancellations will be charged the full session fee (plus travel fees, if applicable) to the card on file. Please note that insurance companies do not reimburse for missed appointments.

We exclusively accept Workers’ Compensation and Auto Insurance (No-Fault/PIP)claims. We do not accept standard health insurance (HMSA, Kaiser, HMAA, etc.) at this time.

Yes, we provide mobile therapy from our Kurtistown (‘Ola’a) base. In addition to the session rate, a travel and set-up fee applies:

• Within 30 minutes:  $104 (cash discount $100)
• 31 to 60 minutes: $156 (cash discount $150)
• 61 minutes or more: $208 (cash discount $200)

• Premium Collaborative Restoration: A high-level service where we work together to identify long-term structural issues and restore your body to peak functional state.
• Direct Therapeutic Application: A focused approach to address specific pain points or injuries using Paola Science.
• Session Length: We offer 60-minute sessions for focused work and 90-minute sessions for comprehensive restoration.

• Who is this for? Student-athletes aged 12–18 who are active in sports. A parent or guardian must be present to authorize treatment.
• Initial Assessment: We evaluate movement patterns and recurring strain to set a baseline for recovery.
• Athletic Maintenance: Regular sessions designed to prevent injury and reduce recovery time between competitions.

• What is a Heritage Retainer? Our most exclusive tier, providing priority access to the Pe’a family’s specific lineage of healing and ancestral wisdom.
• Is it covered by insurance? No. This is a private-pay, membership-style program for those who view their health as a long-term investment in traditional Hawaiian wellness.
• What is the procedure for registering a Global Heritage Retainer? The Integration Protocol: Once a placement is secured and the initial retainer is settled, the engagement begins with a Private Strategy Intensive. On the first day of arrival, I meet with The Principal to conduct a comprehensive structural and neurological assessment. We then create a bespoke Sovereign Restoration Plan to address specific 1-on-1 needs—whether the priority is jet lag recovery, high-stakes cognitive clarity, or physical maintenance during travel.

Yes. To achieve the highest standard of results, the Premium Collaborative Restoration is the recommended entry point. This session provides the “Blueprint” for your body. Without this initial deep-dive assessment, we are simply treating symptoms. By establishing a Recovery Roadmap first, every subsequent session becomes a strategic step toward your peak performance.

The Strategic Choice: While the Premium session offers the most comprehensive long-term outcome, we offer Direct Therapeutic Application in 90-minute and 60-minute intervals to ensure care is accessible.

However, we encourage you to view your physical restoration as a primary investment rather than a secondary expense. Your body is the vehicle for everything you achieve in life; treating it as a priority today prevents being sidelined tomorrow. You may choose to start with a Direct Application session and upgrade to a Premium Roadmap once you are ready to commit to a total structural transformation.

The initial assessment is where the “heavy lifting” of diagnostic strategy happens. As a 3rd-generation LMT, I spend this time identifying the root causes of strain. Once we have created your athlete’s Performance Blueprint, subsequent sessions are dedicated to the physical execution of that plan. If a new injury occurs or a mid-season re-evaluation is needed, a new Assessment session can be scheduled.

For peak performance, timing is everything. I recommend Post-Performance (within 24–48 hours after a game) to flush metabolic waste and reset the nervous system. For Pre-Performance activation, sessions should be scheduled at least 48 hours before the event. This gives the athlete’s body time to integrate the structural changes and ensures they step onto the field feeling stable, agile, and “calibrated” rather than too relaxed.

In the initial assessment, I don’t just talk to the parent; I talk to the athlete. We focus on Physical Literacy. I teach them how to identify the difference between “good” soreness and “warning” pain. By mentoring them on their own body mechanics, we move them away from the “tough it out” culture that leads to chronic injury. They leave with the maturity to communicate effectively with their coaches and the tools to advocate for their own long-term health.