Vice Division officers last week charged four women arrested at separate locations with prostitution and being unlicensed masseuses.
Myong Suk Nelson, 30, of Makaloa Street; Kyong Sun Choe, 39, of Kapiolani Boulevard; Min Cha Lloyd, 51, of Uakea Place; and Sonia Chi, 41, of Amana Street were released after posting $500 bail each.
The arrests occurred Thursday and Friday at 7th Heaven, 911 Halekauwila St.; Stress Free Hawaii, 1500 Kapiolani Blvd.; 825 Therapy, 825 Keeaumoku St.; and TLC Oriental Relaxation, 1347 Kapiolani Blvd.
According to their newspaper advertisements, the businesses offered either Japanese- or Swedish-style "body shampoos," "Asian relaxation therapy" or "relaxation - quiet and private."
Police and the state Board of Massage have been receiving complaints about illegal activities at some establishments. State investigators and Immigration & Naturalization Service agents assisted police in their investigation last week.
The women who were charged allegedly offered massages for money and negotiated a sexual act for a fee, police Lt. Evan Ching said.
A person must be licensed to provide a massage for payment and the service must be performed at an establishment that is also licensed, said Alvin Yamamoto, executive officer of the Massage Board.
Yamamoto, however, added that terms such as "body shampoo" and "relaxation therapy" are not clearly defined.
"It falls in a gray area," he said, "so we need to determine what they're doing before the board can get involved.
"Ultimately what type of activity is involved with the description of body shampoo will be clarified by case law," Yamamoto added. "Right now, we don't know what it entails so we're in the process of gathering information about it."
Yamamoto said the dramatic increase in the number of businesses advertising "body shampoos" is a cause for concern because "...right now, it's unregulated and there are no standards.
"What the police learn will give the board an overview of what's involved," he added.
None of the advertisements mention the word "massage" but the service was offered over the telephone in random calls made to businesses by the Star-Bulletin.
Jean Chon, manager of TLC Oriental Relaxation, said massages at her establishment are performed by licensed personnel.
TLC offers a "Swedish table body shampoo" which means "a lady give you a bath," Chon said.
TLC, she added, has been in business for about six months.
Anna Nguyen said the Japanese-style body shampoo offered by Soap Land is "lying on the table and a girl give you a nice massage." Nguyen added masseuses are licensed.
The going rate is between $50 and $60 for one hour.
In the undercover operations last week, officers were allegedly solicited for sexual acts after receiving bona fide massages, Ching said. The sexual acts were negotiated for a monetary "tip," he said.
The sudden increase in body-cleansing establishments may be tied to economic factors.
"One theory we're looking at," Ching said, "is that (business at) the bars is slow so the girls are looking for other ways to make money. We've always had massage parlors and this may be another angle they're using," he added. "A few years ago, they used the call-out service."