Hawayo Kawamuru was born on December 24, 1900 in Kauai, Hawaii. She married Saichi Takata and had two daughters.  Soon after, Saichi Takata died suddenly and Hawayo Takata, who then went by the name Takata, was left to care and provide for the girls. From 1930 to 1935, Takata overworked herself and collapsed. She decided to travel to Akasaka, Tokyo and enter a small private hospital. After three weeks of examination it was determined Takata had a tumor, gallstones, and appendicitis. She was scheduled for surgery but when she was in the operating room, her intuition told her the operation was not necessary and to ask the doctor if he knew of another healing modality. The doctor introduced Takata to Dr. Chujiro Hayashi who had instituted a Reiki clinic. After receiving Reiki treatment for 3 weeks, Takata recovered.

Takata studied to become a Reiki practitioner before returning home to Kauai in 1937. She realized the importance of treating herself before helping others. Takata had healthy eating habits. As time went on, she traveled extensively to give classes on Reiki. Major points Takata stressed were:

• There exists a Supreme Being, the Absolute Infinite.
• This Universal Life Force is spiritual and can be applied to vitalize the whole system.
• The energy is not electricity or quantum particles.
• The Universal Force belongs to everyone who seeks it and desires to learn the art of healing.
• Treatment is associating with Divine Spirit.