Welcome to Paradise
Embrace your wellness with a massage and bodywork retreat on the big island of Hawaii.
The Retreat
Welcome to your sanctuary on the Big Island, where lush jungles meet black sand beaches, and every day begins with the promise of renewal. Immerse yourself in guided bodywork workshops, yoga sessions, and curated excursions. Spend your downtime relaxing in a Balinese inspired villa and savor locally sourced meals prepared by a private chef.
What’s Included
Lodging
Daily Meals
Bodywork Classes
Daily Yoga
Excursions
The Activities
Bodywork
Yoga
Excursions
The Location
The Big Island is a place of striking contrasts, known for its black sand beaches, cascading waterfalls, and towering active volcanoes that shape the land. Visit Kehena Beach for its tranquil charm, soak in the geothermal Pohoiki Hot Springs, or explore hidden tide pools along the coastline. Every corner is filled with nature’s untamed beauty.
The Stay
Perched along the coast, a Balinese-inspired villa blends modern comfort with island charm. Bright and airy by day, it offers sweeping views of the ocean. By night, the space transforms into a peaceful haven, aglow with soft lights and the soothing rhythm of the waves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I pay but can’t make it?
You will receive a full refund if cancelled prior to November 25, 2024. After that date, we will issue a refund if we are able to provided your space to another guest.
What additional expenses should I expect?
Airfare to Hilo or Kona. ($300 – $800 depending on flight details), Miscellaneous purchases (snacks, gifts, etc), Transportation from the airport to our location. We may be able to pick up from Hilo if several people arrive together. But we recommend renting/sharing a car at the airport.
What will we be doing?
4 classes about 3 hours each of bodywork. We haven’t finalized the exact courses but some possibilities include: Watsu, Lomi Lomi, Phenomenal Touch, Natural Medicines, etc. Please let us know any ideas that sound interesting and we will endeavor to find invite an expert in that area.
Who is attending?
Once we have all the signups, we will open up a chat space for everyone to connect. This can help for coordinating travel and sharing thoughts, excitement, etc. This year will be all former students of Somatherapy, who attended classes while I was a student there. With 1 or 2 possible exceptions.
What is it like in Kehena, Hawaii?
Kehena is an artist, hippy, gay, health & healing community in the Puna District of the Big Island of Hawaii. People in this area are know locally as Punatics. Kind of like Burning Man at the beach. Basically there is one beautiful black sand beach and many rocky beaches with swimmable tide pools.
What not to expect?
We don’t have the creature comforts of the Ritz Carlton in Honolulu here in Kehena. The majority of places are off-grid. Water comes from rain catchments and power from solar. Food comes from local farms. Fish comes from local fishers. There are not any restaurants or bars to speak of.
What about nightlife?
Instead of dance clubs, there are jungle dances that are held weekly at various places. Ecstatic dance was started here at Kalani and is a popular type of dance out here. For the most part, nights are spent on lanai’s under the stars chatting, practicing massage, watching the waves, …
What is it like in the jungle?
There are birds chirping, frogs, crickets and other sounds that create a jungle symphony pretty much around the clock but most vocal in the morning and evening. We don’t have anything dangerous here (no snakes, no large animals), except pesky little ants that can sting.
What is the weather like?
Within a few degrees year round, it is 80 degrees in the day and 70 degrees at night. Most days include a mix of sunshine and rain. Rain usually comes quickly, rains hard for about 10 minutes then is gone. We don’t dress for rain, we just get wet for a minute or move under cover. It’s a warm rain.
What is the water like?
The ocean is about 80 degrees, year round. It feels cool when you first step in but is quickly comfortable, once you start swimming. This isn’t the ideal place for snorkeling but with goggles you will see colorful fish most days. Some days you can swim with the spinner dolphins (about 10% of the tim
