Hawaii Island Retreat

My partner and I stayed here for two nights over New Years a week ago. We travel extensively all over the world and usually at the upper end of the market, so we’ve experienced the full on resort manicured, bespoke offerings out there. To be honest we were looking for a few nights of respite away from our clan who holiday here every year, but none of the high end hotels allow two night stays over the holidays, so we found this retreat almost by default/ accident. At first glance I would have agreed with some of the more pointed reviews here; clearly an ambitious and lovely project from another time which required some TLC. Our bungalow room was spotless, however, and the consensus was we would give it a try. Within a matter of hours the beautiful serene setting, farmlands, lush unruly growth, little stand of trees (a mini forest on the cliffs outside our lanai), birdsong, surf susurration and extensive trails including ancient sacred sites, we recognized that we had stumbled on a very special unique gem. The infinity pool pavilion setting is as good as they come. Look past the forlorn spa cover, breathe and focus on the magnificence of nature one is privileged to behold and you will be just fine. If you are expecting room service, mini bars and onsite dining facilities this is not for you. Our bungalow had no WiFi - enjoy the forced disconnect! Literally a 10 minute drive away you’ll be able to find many lovely local dining options and a little food market that would do well in any cosmopolitan city. There is a dining room in the main lodge where you can store food in a fridge and have use of rudimentary facilities like an air fryer, toaster, microwave, crockery etc. Carol-Anne with a lovely South-African accent was most helpful and provided bread, jam, press coffee etc in the mornings. The absolute star of this place is the owner Jeanne. I hope she will forgive me for saying that she is a benign shaman empath who also offers body work sessions. For the record I’m a science based MD who isn’t typically into fairies, crystals and hugs, but Jeanne had just the right balance of boundaries and skill which proved very right for me and my partner. I’m in Las Vegas writhing this review while attending a medical course(my least favourite city on earth) and Jeanne’s techniques for ameliorating the incessant onslaught on senses is proving to be very effective! In conclusion this place isn’t for everyone and it isn’t for me all the time either, but for a few days of serene bliss away from the contrived, man made, over priced resorts which isn’t the real Hawaii in any case, this is simply perfect.

Be prepared before you go. They are on solar power with a back up generator. The power went out, the showers have warm or cold water, the pool is cold, the hot tub is broken down, meals are not available, you are in a very rural area with limited stores or restaurants. The staff is not available most of the day. That being said, the property is beautiful located on top of a cove. The grounds are well kept, but the buildings need work. If you want a retreat with no noise and you plan on staying at the retreat this would work, but it’s still not worth the high price.

Together with two other friends, we spent five days at the Hawaii Island Retreat for an EMDR experiential workshop. It was a wonderful experience and our stay at the retreat center created a framework that deepened our time of learning. We truly enjoyed our room on the second floor with our lanai facing out toward the ocean. The bed was comfortable, the bathroom expansive and beautiful. Our room was spacious to accommodate the three of us. Everything was super clean upon arrival. Room refreshment and cleaning, upon request, including fresh towels was available at any time. All we had to do, was hang a door sign on the outside of our room. We enjoyed the good water pressure of the shower, the soaps and shampoos and the wonderful large bathtub. Breakfast, lunch and dinner was cooked by Dakota, the retreat center’s wonderful chef. All meals were healthy, organic, delicious and accommodating different diets. The group room accommodated a large group of over 40 people comfortably. The inner courtyard, lanai and plantings created a peaceful and beautiful setting. The grounds are spectacular and the walk towards the cliff and looking out over the ocean creates a very special atmosphere. There is a swing right by the edge of the cliff and it is the most beautiful please, to experience, stars, sunrise, and cool breezes from the ocean. We enjoyed the pool, which features saltwater Instead of being chlorinated. It is large enough to swim labs and to enjoy the serene setting. We felt that it was a wonderful environment for a larger group. The staff was kind, responsive and accommodating. Jeanne, the owner and Mike, the office manager performed a wonderful Hula session before one of the meals for us and it created an additional layer of experiencing Aloha spirit and an authentic part of Hawaiian culture. One day, I walked down to the ocean, and it is a powerful experience of rock, formations and waves surrounded by cliffs in green grassy areas, including some cow pastures. The Kohala area Is the oldest part of the big island and carries a special energy that carries over into the experience at the Hawaii Island Retreat.

Don’t stay here. No hot water in any areas, including the shower buildings which should have hot water to shower. So we were forced to skip showering or take a freezing cold shower. Supposedly they have solar heated water but nope.|Place seemed deserted, no staff anywhere. No water to drink on the entire property. |No food availability, even though they claim they have fresh food with a chef. Very misleading advertising. The brochure sounds great but once you get there it’s nothing like advertised. Was quoted one price and charged a higher price. There literally was no staff anywhere and even though we were told that the rooms would be cleaned every day they weren’t. Salt water pool area dirty and also the pool water, hot tub old and dirty. Stay away from this property, camping in a tent would be better and much cheaper.

This is a very special place. While a lot of aspects are great, to me, it is the location, the land itself, that really sets it apart. The facilities, rooms etc. are all fine (the saltwater pool is fantastic actually) but when you walk down into the valley, hit the beach access from the property, you're in a gorgeous and powerful place. I don't know how to explain it exactly, but I felt like I was drinking in the energy from the place. While it feels like you're a million miles from anything, it's also a short ride into town if you need any basics or a meal off the property. Maybe not everyone would appreciate the place as much others, but I absolutely loved it and can't wait to return.

I really struggled with writing this review. Some aspects of this property are superb. The beds are comfy, ample linens, beautiful fresh flowers in our room and the gardens are gorgeous. It's very peaceful and you can hear the ocean from your room. Other things were not great- the building is very outdated and I saw broken lights, tiles and various other things in disrepair. We tried to do dinner one night (in advance) and the host told us there was not a chef available that night. So we opted to grab dinner somewhere else- when we returned with our dinner we saw other guests being served dinner. There clearly was a chef available. We were also disappointed that the hot tub was not working. For the price I expected a more luxurious experience.

Extraordinary experience! My husband and I were in a group of 19 for a six-night guided yoga retreat. The center and grounds are breathtaking; beautiful open courtyard garden, quiet nooks, lovely rooms, wonderful yoga room, ocean sounds and views, infinity pool and a hot tub, massages and treatments available. The hosts were welcoming and we felt very much at home. Suggestions: they need ample morning coffee service to accommodate the number of guests and more filtered water dispensers for guest use throughout the day. On our last morning, we were treated to Jeanne and Michael's beautiful Hawaiian dances - very special.

PROS: I spent a week at the resort during a writers retreat. We had food made for us for every meal as a part of our package. Food was healthy but inspired and repetitive. Kitchen staff were all very friendly. The location is gorgeous and VERY secluded. See whales breaching in the ocean was incredible. CONS: That being said, the building itself and the rooms were highly disappointing. This is not a 4-star hotel! I don't know how they can claim that at all. The owners use the guise of sustainability to be lazy and cheap. Everything was falling apart. No hot water at times. The rooms looked like they had never been dusted. There was a rat trap in our room and visible water damage in the walls right behind the bed. They claimed that they didn't want wifi to be in the rooms because of harmful radiation (which is garbage), but then they left mold-damaged walls and dust everywhere. Highly disappointing.

Ultra Boutique I visited Hawaii Island Retreat and thought about staying there, but ended up staying elsewhere. We got a 30 minute tour of the grounds though and learned a lot about the place. I was very impressed with what they are doing. The facilities are expensive but gorgeous. This place is really tucked away on a big plot of land, so you aren't hearing any neighbors or traffic at all. They seek to be completely off the grid and have their own wind powered generator. The grounds are full of live vegetation and livestock that stocks the kitchen. The flowers and plants seem to be meticulously manicured by the staff. The rooms have really high ceilings and really nice detail. It feels like a mix of Spanish and Colonial architecture, thoughtfully blended together and infused with a spa-like theme. Given how much I guess it would cost to sustain a place like this, I hope they pull through and make it work. It's a beautiful concept. I just hope it works. I'm giving it 5 stars because the place is in a class of its own given what they are trying to achieve here.

dirty hotel, absolutely no hot water anywhere on the property even in the shower buildings. pool dirty. no staff anywhere, place seemed deserted and run down. no drinking water on the property. no food available on property. rooms not cleaned. roofs leaked when rained. camping in a tent would be better and much cheaper. do not stay here

This is the kind of review as a fellow business owner, you dread writing. I've been writing reviews on Yelp for 11 years across four states I've lived in. I will give fair credit when it's due. Reviews can make or break a small business and I am very aware of that and I've thought about it for 4 months before writing this. I would like to preface this review with acknowledging that the location, the energy and the views of this retreat center can't be beat. It is truly a beautiful and magnificent setting. We ran a retreat here for 35 people and booked out the whole place in late July to early August 2018 for our community members of our online business. There were a lot of painful hiccups during our retreat, some of which were completely avoidable and unprofessional. First of all, this place is severely under staffed and from what we experienced, poorly run. The owner (Jeanne) is wound up tight and she has her hands in everything, making her not so effective in anything. Mike and Amy who work the front desk are awesome but that's about it when it comes to customer relations and service. Hawaii can be funky and we're used to it because we live here. However there are limits when running a "luxury" resort. The solar hot water gets REALLY hot. I mean REALLY REALLY hot. As an owner you already know this, why would you not put a sign next to the hot water taps to warn your out of town guests? One of our guests who was handicapped and needs a hot bath daily ran the hot water and proceeded to put her foot in the tub. She suffered 2nd degree burns from the hot water. (see images). On top of that, there was only one first aid kit for the entire resort, and even that was poorly stocked with only a couple of band aids and cotton swabs. Our guest was in agony for the whole week and when she inquired about the possibility of a comped stay, the answer was a flat no from the retreat owner. We ended up giving her a a full refund from our end because it's the right thing to do. (Note that under plumbing codes, the maximum allowable temperature limits for hot water in plumbing is 120º F / 48º C) https://www.phcppros.com/articles/1828-hot-water-system-temperatures-and-the-code Another guest slipped and fell on the property. No biggie. Accidents happen and we understand. The retreat owner's husband is a medical doctor and he voluntarily came to check on our guest to reassure her that her lung was not punctured by a fractured rib. Jeanne charged our guest $100 for that "voluntary" visit. Here was another thing that broke our hearts. The chef was ranting one day and said out loud "I can't stand all these people and can't wait until they leave!" -- One of our retreat attendees was within earshot and heard the entire rant and told us about it afterwards. Talk about awkward. The resort is not all that clean, the food was terrible and not what we had requested even though we provided the full menu and exact recipes months ahead (we run an online meal plan subscription business) so our community is used to a specific way of eating and flavors of a whole food plant based lifestyle. We were assured this would be no issue since Hawaii has an abundance of fruits and the retreat center has its own vegetable gardens. The owner was unprofessional and horrible to us. She's an odd one with no qualms about yelling at you on the phone even though we're the clients booking out the entire space. We were amazed at how unprofessional the entire experience was. It's safe to say that we will never do another retreat here, nor would we recommend it. This is too bad because it is truly a stunning location.

I have been to this retreat twice and both times it has been magical! I love the peacefulness of the space, the salt water pool, the valley hike to the ocean, the breeze, the views, the food - truly all of it is a great getaway to refresh and recharge. Jeanne and Mike and all the staff are incredible. They make you feel like family1

Roaches roaches and more roaches. This review is from pre-COVID, so hopefully this place has changed and I want to give them the benefit of the doubt as I am sure they are trying. I stayed for a wedding here and my room had three roaches that I saw over just one night. Keep in mind there is no AC (in summer) so the windows have to be open. Two were on ceiling and one under toilet seat at 9 AM in the morning. The owner said it was "water bugs" not roaches, offered no refund and the attached two photos are the ones I took of the "water bugs". I believe this property needs a revamp and at least some pest control maintenance.

I have been lucky enough to have experienced Hawaii Island Retreat twice in the past 2 years while on a yoga retreat. Each stay was absolutely magical and transformative. The location is breathtaking, secluded and totally away from any sign of civilization. Located on the cliffs of the north shore, your views are amazing. The quaint boutique hotel rooms are large yet comfortable and very clean. Loved the extra large bathrooms too! The property is located on vast acreage that invites long meditative walks among natural foliage and gardens. And the food was unbelievable! The chefs were very accommodating and prepared delicious, fresh, delectable meals. I would recommend this location if you ever want to rejuvenate and restore your soul.

I stayed here a year ago and would never, ever go back. First off, there is NO air conditioning. Yes the lodge is near the ocean but I was in the top 'penthouse' room all week and it was uninhabitable during the afternoons because of the heat. Second, you have to go sit downstairs near the office to get the (weak and slow) wifi signal. Third, the room and adjacent bathroom were full of bugs. Every morning, I would have to clear hundreds of little flies and gnats off the sink and shower. I also had a wasp that stayed in the room all week. These people don't believe in extermination or pest control so of course with no AC, bugs feel right at home. The food was gross for most of the week. On the bright side, the pool and the meditation building were both nice.

Horrendous and disappointing. We rented the entire facility for 4 days of events including my daughter's wedding for 130 people. Let me start by saying that the proprietor here (Jeanne) went a long way towards RUINING the entire process for my wife and I. Her (in my opinion, phony) aloha spirit when you meet her is quickly replaced by a very inhospitable, and bordering on rude attitude for the rest of the process preparing and executing the rehearsal, wedding day, and post-wedding day brunch. In my opinion, she did not demonstrate the skills of a person in hospitality. The ONLY THING that saved the weekend was our wedding planner and the fact that the grounds are picturesque. I want to be very accurate in my appraisal of the weekend. The food that was provided for breakfast in the morning and the brunch was good. We had the wedding food catered by another company. The grounds are beautiful. The rooms were fine but very warm due to the lack of A/C so it made getting ready for a wedding difficult since we were all sweating profusely by the time of the events. Our bungalow was filthy in places, bugs everywhere. The real problem was the lead-up for months to the events. I'm not sure what we would have done without our wedding planner (Hannah) who literally saved the day. The owner was so incredibly uncooperative...it was hard to fathom. On multiple occasions she told us things that she did not follow through on or downright lied. Some examples: She sent us a diagram of the grounds which included a space for tent erection that she had listed as 100 feet wide...in truth it was less than 25 feet wide. When we originally toured the facility, she told us we could use the "yoga room" for a variety of uses including a "back up" if it were to rain...then she reneged on that promise. (The yoga room, which is one of the better spaces in the facility, had drapes up the entire weekend even though we rented the whole facility). The selection of the beer and wine from long distance became an ongoing ridiculous process whereby the owner INSISTED that I provide her the wines that I wanted and she would see if she could get them... why not provide a list for me to choose from that she has available you ask?? God only knows. After $300 of wine purchases and multiple trips to my local wine store to try to select wines that she MIGHT have...the process became almost unbearable when she said to me on the phone, "look if you don't want beer and wine at this wedding, it's ok with me". Really?? She insisted that she was going to "pass through" the wine and beer at her cost but then refused to show me the invoice of what her cost was...and that she was including "fees" but would not tell me what those fees represented. I have been involved in countless large and small events in my career. I have been involved in bringing hundreds of people to destination-events in the past. NEVER have I run into someone who literally put hurdles up at every turn to make things more difficult. In spite of this woman, we were able to have a nice event due to the picturesque grounds and OUR diligence. Good luck to anyone who chooses this facility.

Beware. This place is a total scam. Overpriced to begin with, but terribly rundown and understaffed. Not to mention sketchy business practices, dishonesty, and sneaky fees. The grounds are beautiful and it's certainly a peaceful place, but better for a day hike or quick visit than a weekend stay. That's mostly because of the staff. When we arrived we were lead to an old, buggy yurt with a stained bedspread, located a couple of feet from several other yurts. It's less seclusion and more like a crowded summer camp environment. Showers were located in a separate building and it was very hot. Nothing luxurious about it. The grounds and lobby area are worn down and dilapidated, and the front office seemed surprised about our arrival. There was only one other guest on the property, and the entire place had a haunted house feel. We decided to leave since this was not the kind of place where we wanted to spend any additional time, but the manager said it would cost us $300 (nearly the cost of our two nights at the yurt) in cancellation fees. She offered to show us one of the rooms in the (empty) house, and offered us an upgrade since no one else was staying on the property. We checked out the room which was significantly nicer than the yurts with a nice bathroom, good bed and sheets, and a nice view of the grounds. We still weren't thrilled about staying on the property, but didn't want to waste the $300 and struggle to find somewhere else to stay on a Friday afternoon. We agreed to stay in the room, and traded in our yurt keys for room keys. Note - There was no mention of fees then or at any other time during our stay. When we checked out, we were emailed a bill which showed two $75 charges for "upgrade fees", something we had never heard about before. I inquired with the front desk who took 24 hours to get back to me, then made up a story about informing us of the fees and how we agreed. They then wrote a long list of all of the "value" we got from staying in the room, and how much money we "saved" by getting the upgrade. Keep in mind, we were charged additional money. Subsequent phone calls and explanations were dismissed. It's very disappointing to write a review like this, especially when we loved the idea of a green place that's so close to nature, but we encourage everyone to stay somewhere else when visiting the Big Island, this place is sure to leave you with a bad taste in your mouth.

From the moment I entered this very special place, I felt very well taken care of. Upon my arrival Jacque greeted me and made me feel welcomed and relaxed. She showed me to my room for the next four days and three nights. The Golden Penthouse is very spacious with a king sized bed and two dressers. There is a soaking tub in the room that overlooks the ocean. A shower is also available in the bathroom. The room is perfect for sleeping, relaxing, or reading and it was spacious enough to do yoga either in the room or on the lanai. There is no television or phone in the room. However there is an entertainment room with a flat screen television and a lot of books. A phone is available in the reception area. The property itself is beautiful, located on a cliff that overlooks the blue Pacific Ocean. There is a fairly easy trail that will take you down to the ocean. There are other trails and other activities on property include the spa, swimming in the salt water pool, and yoga. Another one of the great things about this place is that it strives to be self sustainable. There are solar panels and a windmill that create all the electricity. They have their own garden that provides 80% of the food they serve and they also compost. There is much more than I can remember that they do as an eco-hotel. And they staff. They are some of the most welcoming and caring people I have met. Jacque lead my yoga and meditation classes and did two spa treatments. I really enjoyed the one on one instruction and insight that she shared. Chef Mo is very animated and enthusiastic about his craft. He has a way with spices and flavors. I still can't get over the coconut, cinnamon, and clove tapioca pudding. Soo good! And Jeanne who created and runs the Hawaii Island Retreat is knowledgeable about every aspect of the place. And she is so generous for creating such a place where her knowledge is shared and passed along. My goal was to spend time on myself and reconnect with myself. This place was the perfect spot for me and I left transformed. Things that I learned there, I will strive to always remember.

The rooms we got were clean the road into the place is like driving through a jungle: never been to a place like this it's fully self supporting from food they grow live stock including the electricity too "crazy right" the owners themselves grow everything. Cool hiking the property is huge! cool Hawaii ancient stone circles, meditation spots not my thing but it was time to try different and I liked it kinda lol rooms have no TV they have a wifi media room with TV. Hard to describe it's nothing I was use to wife wanted to take me to a place that was opposite of crazy NY and LA. day one I was rattled by it by day 4 I didn't want to leave. Oh cell service sucks here it was in and out but that also was a blessing. Definitely something you should do once in your life.

I booked a self care birthday get away that I will never forget. I loved so many things about my stay: kids playing hide and seek after dark, the bed was so comfy cozy, the bathtub in my room got quite a bit of use also I had a relaxing massage with Momi who was an absolute delight! Very in tune and caring. I had a rejuvenating facial with Lia which led to life changing breath work with Lia I am beyond grateful for my experience. Thank you Lia, Momi and Hawaii Island Retreat

Don't waste your time or money visiting the Hawaii Island Retreat! Unfortunately this beautiful location is run by a very inhospitable woman named Jeanne. My mom, daughter and I arrived for what was to be a wonderful reunion! My mom had worked on putting together a lovely yoga and spa package that was to include daily meals each day. When we arrived we were greeted by Jeanne who was just filled with bad energy. We were instantly put off by her aggressive and hostile demeanor. We did not feel welcome or valued as a guest. After spending the night and having an amazing morning yoga practice with Starry, we arrived at the restaurant area expecting to be served brunch, only to once again be approached by Jeanne. The tables had crumbs all over them and none were set. It was as if she forgot we were coming. She informed my Mom that we would be charged $15 a person for a breakfast that we had not asked for, nor had eaten! The breakfast she had put out was a loaf of bread, hard boiled eggs and a bowl of tangerines. She then had the nerve to remove the bread from the table, go to the kitchen and slice some avocado on it with 2 fried eggs and charge us $25 per person for this meal!! By the end of this unsatisfactory meal we decided to cut our losses and move on from this this retreat center that had brought us angst and frustration. We were there for a total of 22 hours and my mom had been charged $1433! The facility and bungalows were slightly run down and a bit dirty, there was no hot water for the shower and the meals were mediocre at best. We left feeling as though we had been ripped off.

Beautiful property, quiet and secluded but service and communication were not up to par for a resort that charges what they do. We booked a bungalow for our honeymoon and I sent them an email before we arrived asking "could we potentially do a private dinner during our stay?" I received an email response that said "we can do dinner on 12/31 or 1/1." Since I had asked very specifically for a private dinner, the response was confirmatory and sounded to us like we would be getting a private dinner. What we received instead was a buffet meal with all the other guests of the hotel of steamed broccoli, roasted carrots, salad and chicken (which they ran out of and didn't have enough for all the guests) for $45/person. I wrote them after we left and explained our disappointment in the miscommunication and what I received was a series of rude and condescending responses from Jeanne. While she offered to refund "part" of our cost for dinner, she took no responsibility for the miscommunication of her staff and told me to "take responsibility for your desires and express them in a clearer way." I dont know how I could have been more clear than asking specifically for what I wanted, but somehow it's my fault they didn't communicate clearly? I would have happily given this resort a higher rating but after her rudeness, will never be staying there again. Based on other negative reviews seems like arrogance and bad communication are par for the course at Hawaii Island Retreat! Buyer beware!

I stayed at Hawaii island retreat for a week and opted for their spa package, all inclusive meals. I had a wonderful time. The people were super nice & the room was beautiful! The food was healthy & delicious. The story behind building the retreat and the cultural significance of the place was very touching. I loved my yoga instructor and the people who worked with me as part of my spa package. I would definitely love to visit again! I didn't rent a car, so getting in and out of the retreat was not very easy, in the sense of getting a cab/uber. The remoteness of the retreat could be plus or minus , depending on what you plan to do. I pretty much stayed in and enjoyed a relaxing, peaceful time!

I arrived at KOA (Kona airport) in the evening (8:30 p.m.); I was stunned that they didn't have some sort of organized transportation worked out for guests who needed to make their way to the retreat centre which is pretty remote. I was part of a group of 12 for a Yoga retreat. The centre is nice - pretty courtyards and places to relax (if only you were allowed to!). It was very expensive to then spend a week being scolded and have the back of your hand slapped for breaking rules that were made up on the fly. The worst part was the passive-aggression behind all of the communication. As an adult, I appreciate polite and direct communications of expectations. Oh my goodness, the rules! I'm a real rule-follower too.. but this was ridiculous. None of the literature outlines the restrictions and constraints we were suddenly subject to after we'd paid and arrived at the centre. We were shushed at 9:30 for excessive noise; apparently, as the only guests we were being disruptive with our laughter. After dinner, we had some wine in the dining room and we were scolded for drinking in public. A few days later, other guests arrived and were served wine at their table with wine glasses; I'm still confused about the double standard. We gathered on the patio of one person's room and rather than knock on the door to ask us to keep the volume down, the owner hid in the bushes and then snuck up on us to wag her finger. That was so invasive and creepy. We were asked not to bath in the evening without permission. The entire week, was spent getting in trouble for normal things one might do while on holiday. It's a good thing my husband did not accompany me for this - he would not have tolerated such an egregious invasion of dignity, privacy, and respect. I only recommend this for the Masochists at heart.

We were so excited to stay in a luxury yurt, as everything about the website and other reviews identified this place as a boutique experience. My husband and I went in February 2013 for our last vacation before having our first baby, so we were ready to relax and just enjoy each other's company. The grounds provide a beautiful natural setting that is dramatic and lush. We hiked around the hills and down near the ocean, and loved the fresh ocean breeze and striking views. It was very muddy though, as the location at the uppermost northern tip of the island was very rainy and wet during our stay. The main house had some nice renovations, and the common areas were nice. As we didn't stay in the main house, we didn't see inside a room there. Unfortunately, I had a very similar experience to fellow Yelper Doris M. We are San Franciscans, so maybe we were just expecting more, but the food was not on par with what we expected. The coffee was inconsistent and just not good (and this is just miles from Kona- a coffee mecca!) The first breakfast we had was breakfast burritos but the filling was what I can only describe as sweet cream cheese with scrambled egg with fruit mixed in. I love a sweet/savory combo but it was just odd. My husband really disliked it. The bananas and apples were brown, as if they'd been cut up hours before, and the pineapple wasn't sweet (in Hawaii?) We were expecting fresh, healthy, gourmet meals, and it just missed the mark. On to the yurt. As I mentioned, it poured rain while we were there, which is not their fault obviously. We had planned to stay four nights but reduced our stay to two because we just couldn't take the wetness anymore. When the rain poured on the yurt, it sounded like pebbles hitting a tarp and was incredibly loud. There were also a lot of bugs in the yurt, nothing that stung, but a lot flying things that were about a centimeter long, plus a centipede. I knew we were in a very natural setting, but I didn't want the bugs inside. Paired with the dampness of all our belongings due to the rain despite being inside the yurt, it just felt like nature was taking over a little too much. I ended up coming down with a cold upon leaving, which again, not their fault, but the cold dampness didn't help. The yoga room, pool area and indoor/outdoor relaxation area nearby were very pretty- the infinity pool was not heated, however, so it was freezing and therefore just for looks at this time of year. The jets on the hot tub did not work at the time we were there. Disappointing, since we were dying to warm up! The shower facilities were beautiful, clean, and very newly renovated. The proprietor was gracious when we asked to leave early, but informed us our nightly rate would go up as we were not staying the full four days. That was kind of a bummer. We told her it was the cold/wetness that was driving us away, and since I know the place was nowhere near full, I thought maybe she'd offer us a room in the main house for a reduced rate rather than lose our business altogether, but she did not. We overheard her being a bit brusque with some of the employees, which didn't sit well with the relaxing vibe we were trying to cultivate for ourselves. On the other hand, Kelli, who had handled our booking and spa appointments was delightful and very accommodating. My husband enjoyed his massage appointment; mine was fair. They were quite expensive. My overall feeling on this place is that they really need to step it up and create an overall boutique experience if they are going to brand themselves that way. I hope they can improve on the above pain points because the setting is gorgeous and they have laudably been careful stewards of the very precious historical land in that area.

Place is beautiful! Yoga room was great. The food was mediocre at best. Employees are rude, unfriendly, and very unwelcoming. And intrusive. Strange vibe that makes you feel like your at your parents house. so if your on a silent retreat or some weird cleanse it's perfect. If you want to have a good time don't stay there.

The place is truly gorgeous! They are fully green so there are no lights after dark, a lot of mosquitos and bugs but aside of that the land is beyond amazing! Mike who works the front desk was awesome! He is just so courteous, funny and kind to everything. My biggest complaint though is of the young lady at the front desk. I bought a few jars of honey from the resort for gifting and asked her to place it in a ziplock before putting in the sealed box. She answered we can do that but went ahead and did her own thing. She put industrial tape over the top cork and over the labels on the jar. I knew instantly that the labels and cork would tear when I remove the tape. Not to mention this will spill all over my stuff. Surprise! I came home, unpacked and it did just that. So, can't give away the honey anymore. I also tried to cut the tape around the label to prevent tearing the paper but its just too sticky and messy. sigh My advice on wrapping the honey is with saran wrap. It will secure and not rip any of the original packaging on the jar.

We made a visit here for our 2 year anniversary in Spring 2015 and will never forget it! Jeanne and Robert were incredible hosts! It was a very quiet weekend and Jeanne fulfilled all our requests and gave us special treatment too :) We had great conversations and we pretty much became soul mates. We can't wait to visit them again! PS-if you have any dietary needs, they will take great care of you! They made us delicious vegan meals!!

This place is refreshing, serene, beautiful and best place I have been in Kona. I cannot wait for my next trip. The penthouse suite was awesome. Jeanne was awesome as a host. Chef Mo dishes were to order and flavorable and beautiful. The staff was professional very accommodating. This is not the party to you drop place. I came to relax and recoup from the stressed of life and work and turely appreciated the serene atmosphere. I really enjoyed being alone and pampered. No loud parties, no screaming kids and no intrusive staff. The spa services was awesome. I love and appreciate the Eco friendliness of the resort.

I've stayed at Hawaii Island Retreat Center twice on yoga retreats, once in the main building and once in a yurt. I have such wonderful memories of my time there, and hope to get to another retreat there soon! It is quiet, peaceful, and beautiful. The gardens are gorgeous, and smell heavenly. The yoga space is amazing, with views onto the ocean. The pool is gorgeous. If you're looking for seclusion, privacy, and some R&R, this is definitely a perfect place for a retreat.

No hot water.. Despite prior assurance from owner (who lied), there were no screens on the bungalow windows- welcome in mosquitos! Thus the room is like an oven with the only screen on the sliding glass door (the screen lock was broken so anyone could enter) allowing in fresh air. No A/C. We left after 1 night. The owner then billed our credit card for excessive charges. The grounds are lovely. Manicured, but not natural.

Just returned from a week long stay at this resort. I was there with 25 other people on a yoga retreat. I absolutely loved my stay there. The very first night, our group arrived late, around 9 p.m., but we were promptly checked in and Mike carried our luggage upstairs. To my surprise, a meal was ready for us and we were starving! My friend and I stayed in the Violet room and what a joy it was to open the french doors in the morning to see we had our own balcony overlooking the ocean. Every night we went to sleep listening to waves crashing against the rocks and every morning we woke up to a cacophony of birds chirping. Brings a smile to my face just thinking about it. As the week went on, it was clear this place is very special. Jeannie, the owner, freely shared her passion and knowledge about the resort she and her husband created and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her. This is not a Hyatt so don't expect all the finery of that type of resort. This is a very remote, get-back-to-nature kind of place with an elegant touch. In addition to enjoying the property, two yoga classes a day (we brought our instructors with us) and healthy meals prepared by the staff, we took day trips to beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls and a botanical garden. We even went on a sunset cruise (30 minutes away) where we saw humpback whales and a pod of over 200 spinner dolphins! An amazing place to visit.

Stayed here about a month ago and am just getting around to reviewing. Was shocked (disturbed actually) to read the recent (awful) reviews (one twice by the same person?). I personally had an amazing visit. The owners were lovely and treated me and my friends with the same respect they so obviously show to the beautiful earth that surrounds them. The rooms were gorgeous and very well maintained. The views to die for (and you can even make friends with a baby goat and a rooster!) Food was totally organic and locally grown. Took several long walks on the property and felt like I was the only person there. It was life-affirming. All I can fathom from the other reviewers is that they were looking for a party atmosphere (ever go to a spa only to have your peace interrupted by a bridal shower that just came from a winery?! I do live in wine country so maybe that is more prevalent here?!) Serenity doesn't appeal to everyone. If you are looking to let your hair down and party hardy this is not the place. If you want to re-boot your soul than this IS the place if you are in Hawaii. Enjoy...mahalo! I will be back! cc

Beautiful grounds and nice rooms. The resort is perfectly suited to a rejuvenating, peaceful kind of retreat, which is what it is marketed for. It is not as well suited to hanging out and seeing Hawaii. It is in a semi-remote location near the very small but very nice town of Hawi. Prices are fairly high (starting at $200/night). I only had breakfast which was ok, but not worth the $25 that some pay (if not included with the room). Wi-fi was available in the public lobby area only.

I am in love with this place! The land, the service, the people and the price. You get your dollars worth and more. When we arrived we were greeted by a wonderful caring woman who showed us all the hotel had to offer. The fragrant courtyard over looking the ocean where we would have our included breakfast. The infinity pool where I would swim laps in the morning after doing a personal workout in the airy exercise room. She explained the trails around the property where we would do a 6 am hike to the oceanfront the next morning. The lovely gardens that grew the food and the chickens and goats that supplied our eggs and yogurt. She then dropped us at our yurt that had a wonderful bed and was open on top to the lush environment and stars. We felt special and truly in a special place. We had dinner in Hawi which was only a 10 minute drive and explored the beaches of the north. When I first looked at the site I thought the retreat was only for yogi types on a quest but you should know- the Hawaii Island Retreat is for everyone! If you appreciate nature, service, luxury surroundings and solace.

I have never stayed at the hotel (I live close by), but I have used the spa services on a regular basis. The hotel's common/public areas are stunningly beautiful and serene. The staff are friendly and very competent; the massage therapists I have had have been excellent. A very relaxing, quiet place.