Perspectives

Hawaii has a strong tradition of integrative and alternative health care.

From traditional Hawaiian healing practices like lomilomi massage and la'au lapa'au to acupuncture, naturopathy, and herbal medicine, alternative health options in Hawaii are more established and more widely accepted than in most US states. The state's Asian Pacific cultural makeup means many of these traditions have been practiced here for generations, not imported as trends. Walking into an acupuncture clinic in Honolulu feels different from walking into one in a city where it arrived five years ago. Many practitioners work alongside conventional medical providers rather than in opposition to them. Integrative medicine clinics that blend Western and traditional approaches exist on Oahu and Maui. Licensing requirements vary by modality. Massage therapists must hold a Hawaii state license. Naturopathic doctors are licensed to practice in Hawaii. Acupuncturists must complete graduate-level training and pass national board exams. The alternative health providers listed here operate across Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island and work across the range of integrative and traditional health disciplines.