Creating Heaven
Rose geranium, lavender, grapefruit, and clary sage fill the air at the lobby of Heaven on Earth Day Spa, as the sounds of slack-key guitar, flutes that mimic wind, strings, soft shaker rhythms, and trickling water sedate one into an oasis of nature.
The full-length glass windows and tall atrium ceilings allow softened sunlight to peek through onto the bamboo floors, and an awaiting smile on a clean, bright face behind the welcome counter offers warm, licorice-mint tea and a safe escape from the stress of the outside world.
Since opening the spa in 1997, Lora Nakai has managed to create a safe haven for people to come decompress and be nurtured. She says that self-care is essential not just to individual health, but the health of the whole community. Her spa is a place where one can take care of themselves and rejuvenate emotionally, spiritually, and physically. “Stress is what kills us,” Lora’s affectionate tone is sincere. “If we don’t take care of ourselves, we are like a car running on flat tires.” When one person is unable to manage their stress, their emotions will overload onto the people around them, and that baggage causes a domino effect. Acknowledging that we need regular stress release is now an accepted part of our culture; yet, taking the time and initiative to actually heal our bodies is what many people struggle with. As a result of this, Lora decided to make self-care an inviting and accessible option by positioning her business where the people with the biggest self-care needs were—in the center of downtown Honolulu.
Originally from Oregon, Lora became fascinated with Hawai‘i’s laid-back, family-friendly culture through friends in her freshman dorm at college. An exchange program with the University of Hawai‘i had introduced her to the state. The high costs of school and life in Hawai‘i required her to work in addition to her schooling. Having massage experience from Oregon, it was only natural to seek out the massage industry in Honolulu. Lora found luck at the Halekulani and she began attending classes in the mornings, working in the afternoons, and going to required massage school training during the nights. Within the year, she was burnt out and realized she would have to let some of her ambitions go. Lora heard about an eight-week business management course from the Chamber of Commerce, and she used it to launch her own massage business in 1990 at Honolulu Park Place. After six years, she had set up six successful locations under the Executive Massage name. However, Lora was stretched thin, and she was pregnant, looking to maximize her efforts in less locations. With the birth of her daughter, Lora moved her business into Alakea street in downtown, closing all her other locations except Hale Koa. She renamed her business Heaven on Earth, and she brought in nail, hair, facials, and top retail lines, making it the one-stop-shop for executives in town. The organic treatments and all natural products set her store apart, but the biggest success factor was in her heart and chosen team nurturing the clients. “It’s such a close relationship to be hands on with someone who trusts you,” Lora explains. To give great service in this industry, “You have to have a servant’s heart and listen.”
Lora says having like-minded people around you is crucial to your business and mental health. She calls her manager her “ride or die,” and she has had her back for thirteen years. She also thanks her mom for all the years of bookkeeping she’s given. She credits her husband, Neil, for keeping integrity, giving her contacts, guidance, and support. She is equally as grateful that her daughter, a business major, now works alongside her in the spa and is updating their website and e-commerce options. With the COVID-19 pandemic presenting so many changes, Lora took some time to renovate the spa, adding in plexiglass at the check-in counter. While she still takes walk-ins, there is a required health & travel questionnaire, temperature check on arrival, and no waiting area lounge. However, Lora knows how important self-care is in improving one’s lifestyle and optimum performance, and she plans to stay open to continue to serve the community.