Frequently asked questions

Therapeutic, deep tissue, relaxation, sports and recovery, and prenatal massage, plus mobile in-home sessions. If you are not sure which to book, choose therapeutic — it is the most adaptable, and we can shift the approach once we have talked. Full descriptions are on the massage services page.

[$XXX] for 60 minutes, [$XXX] for 90, and [$XXX] for 120. Mobile sessions add a [$XX] travel fee outside [SERVICE AREA]. Rates are listed with each service on the services page.

[CONFIRM your real lead time. A typical honest answer: one to two weeks in high season and a few days the rest of the year, with weekends and late afternoons going first. Same-day sessions do open up — text me and I will tell you what is left.]

It depends on what you are dealing with. For a specific, stubborn problem, weekly or fortnightly for a short block works better than one session every few months. For general maintenance, most regulars land somewhere around every three to four weeks.

Visitors often book once early in the trip and again near the end. That tends to work well.

[CONFIRM your policy. A common one: 24 hours notice to reschedule at no charge; inside 24 hours, [XX]% of the session fee; no-shows are charged in full. Mobile bookings sometimes carry a longer window because of travel time. Whatever you choose, state it plainly here and repeat it in your booking confirmation.]

[CONFIRM. If you work alone, the honest answer is that you offer back-to-back sessions in the same location rather than simultaneous couples massage, and that you can bring in a second licensed therapist for true couples or group bookings with notice. Say whichever is true for you.]

[CONFIRM. Most independent massage therapists in Hawaii do not bill insurance directly but can provide a receipt for reimbursement, and many accept HSA/FSA cards when the session is prescribed. State your actual position here — people search for this.]

[CONFIRM. Whichever you choose — gratuity welcome, or rates inclusive with no tipping — say it here. People appreciate not having to guess.]

The studio is at [STUDIO ADDRESS] in [CITY]. Parking is [PARKING DETAILS]. I also travel for in-home sessions across [SERVICE AREA] and, by arrangement, island-wide.

Yes. I bring the table, linens, oils and music to your home, condo or vacation rental and set up in about ten minutes. All I need is a space roughly seven by nine feet and somewhere to wash my hands.

Travel within [SERVICE AREA] is included; beyond that there is a flat [$XX] travel fee, confirmed before you book. [Delete this answer if you do not offer mobile massage.]

Regularly: Kapaʻa, Wailua, Līhuʻe, Anahola and Kīlauea. Also Princeville, Hanalei, Kōloa, Poʻipū, Kalāheo, Waimea and Hanapēpē. Anywhere further afield is possible with enough notice — ask.

[Trim this list to the areas you actually serve. Listing towns you will not drive to costs you more than it gains.]

We talk for five minutes first: what is bothering you, what you do all day, anything I should work around. Then you undress to whatever level you are comfortable with and get under the sheet while I step out.

You stay draped the entire time — only the area being worked on is uncovered. I check pressure early and you can change it at any point. Afterward you get a few minutes to get up slowly, some water, and one or two specific things to do between sessions.

Drink some water beforehand, and skip a heavy meal in the hour before. A shower is appreciated but not required — if you are coming from the beach or the trail, tell me and we will work around it.

Come with a sense of what you want out of the session, even if it is only “I am wrecked, fix whatever you find.” That is a legitimate answer.

No. Undress to the level you are comfortable with. Most people leave underwear on; some stay fully clothed and we work through the sheet. You are draped throughout either way, and only the region being worked is exposed.

It should not. Firm work can be intense — there is a difference between pressure you can breathe through and pressure that makes you brace. The second one does not help, and I would rather you tell me immediately than be polite about it.

Mild soreness for a day after deep work is normal. Sharp pain during a session is not.

[CONFIRM. Name the oil, lotion or balm you actually use, whether it is unscented by default, and whether you can work fragrance-free for clients with sensitivities. If you use a local Kauai-made product, say so — it is a genuine differentiator.]