Frequently Asked Questions
You have questions. We have answers!
We recognize this may be the first time you’ve ever been to Hawai’i, or the first time you’ve been to a tropical forest, or the first time you’ve been to a retreat center, and questions about what our center is like, what’s available and what to bring are common. We’ve organized our most frequently asked questions here to help prepare you as a visitor or guest with Kalani Retreat Center on the island of Hawai’i.
Frequently Asked Questions
General inquiries
Kalani is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational retreat center in the heart of the coastal forests of Ke’eke’e in the Puna District on the island of Hawai’i. An iconic eco-tourism destination, our campus is a hub for education programs, wellness services, lodging accommodations, abundant nature, and community living. We invite you to participate in our daily classes and events—spanning yoga, dance, permaculture and art, or immerse yourself in our lush tropical forest environment as an overnight guest. We look forward to connecting with you!
Our Kalani Oceanside Retreat Center is located in the rural Puna District on the Big Island of Hawai‘i about a 1 hour drive from Hilo and a 2.5 hour drive from Kona, nestled along forests, lava fields and coastlines on the scenic 137 highway known as the Red Road. Our address is: 12-6870 Kalapana Kapoho Road, Pāhoa, HI 96778.
Our general business hours for answering calls and emails are 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily. If we may not be able to answer your call immediately, please leave us a voice message or text our line so a team member can reach out to you as soon as they’re able. A manager on duty is available to attend to urgent after hours needs for current guests after 6:00 PM.
Hale Aloha serves as both Kalani’s front desk for guest information and needs, as well as a small shop serving local and visitors alike. Coffee, ice cream, snacks, toiletries, and local arts and crafts are available for purchase. Hale Aloha is open from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily. Holidays may affect hours so please check in with us on our Hale Aloha page or directly at (808) 756 – 9530 for holiday hours information.
You have options of visiting Kalani either briefly or for more in depth experiences! Visitors with a brief window of time can stop by our Hale Aloha shop and relax on it’s ocean view lanai along the scenic Red Road of Puna. If you have additional time you’d like to spend with us, you can treat yourself to a massage or wellness service by making an appointment online in advance, or drop in and join us for a class or event on our weekly schedule. For those looking to immerse themselves in our environment, you can book a lodging stay with us in our unique cottage accommodations, or join an upcoming retreat or workshop we’re hosting. Finally, for those looking to embrace our community fully, explore our Service Learning Program for available opportunities to become part of our intentional community and serve at our center for a period of up to three months.
Classes and events welcome drop ins and do not require advance registration unless otherwise mentioned on our calendar descriptions. Payments for classes are made directly by students to teachers in class unless an online payment or ticketing option is mentioned on our calendar description. Class schedules, upcoming events and class descriptions can be found on the Calendar page of our website.
The upcoming Ecstatic Dance DJ and more information about Ecstatic Dance can be found on the Ecstatic Dance page of our website. Widely considered the birthplace of this practice, our center is honored to host this weekly community event.
Families and children are welcome, though please note any child under 18 years of age must be with a guardian at all times. The majority of classes and events do not have an age minimum or maximum, and if there is a minimum age for attendees it will be posted in the description. If you have any other questions about visiting our center with your family or about a specific class or event, please reach out to our team at [email protected].
We do not allow pets including dogs, cats or other pets onto our property. Certified service animals are welcome, though they must be on a leash at all times and picked up after by their owner. Please note lodging guests with animals may require an additional damage deposit.
Thank you for your interest in collaborating with our center as a weekly class teacher! Please send an email to [email protected] to get connected with our educational team and explore options for offering a reoccurring class on our weekly schedule. We welcome many types of educational offerings including yoga, art, meditation, dance, comedy, juggling, discussion groups and just about anything else you can imagine!
Thank you for your interest in hosting a retreat, workshop or event at our center! Please visit our Host Your Retreat page to learn more about our offerings and to send an inquiry, or reach out directly to [email protected] to begin exploring options and availability.
You’re welcome to explore our wellness offerings and massage modalities, as well as book an appointment with a therapist directly on our Wellness page. Please note wellness appointments must be booked with at least 24 hours advance notice.
Thank you for your interest in participating in our organization’s Service Learning Program! You can learn more about this program, such as eligibility, expectations and open positions, on the Service Learning Program page of our website. If you’ve found an aligned opening and would like to apply, you can also find our detailed application here. Please note our application has a non-refundable $30 application fee.
You can support Kalani’s mission of cultivating growth experiences through empowering learning opportunities by participating in a class or event on our campus, by lodging with us an an overnight guest or retreat participant, by joining our community of Service Learners, or by providing a tax-deductible donation to our 501(c)(3) organization by following the button at the bottom of our website that says Partner & Donate. If you may be interested in supporting a particular program or providing a unique donation, or if you need a receipt for tax purposes, you’re welcome to email [email protected] to connect with our team.
We appreciate your interest in visiting our center once again! Since the 2018 lava flow and closure, and the subsequent rebuilding process which continues to this day, many elements you may be familiar with have changed. The land areas which the nonprofit organization stewards has shifted onto 94 acres of its original 120 acres. This means that certain spaces such as the restaurant, pool, and hale dorm buildings are no longer available. We continue to offer classes, events, lodging, wellness, education, community and abundant nature through our ongoing programs in the spaces our nonprofit organization continues to steward. Please let us know at [email protected] if you may have any additional specific questions on what our center currently offers.
Lodging guest inquiries
Check in is at 4:00 pm. If you arrive to our center early, you’re welcome to enjoy classes and explore our campus free of charge until your room is ready at 4 pm. If you would like to request an early check in for your room between 12 pm and 4 pm for a cost of $30 per room, please email [email protected] with your request. Early check ins are subject to availability.
If you plan to arrive after 6:00 pm when our Hale Aloha shop and front desk has closed, we will send self check in instructions to the guest email on file the day of your arrival before 4:00 pm. These instructions include all relevant codes and directions to access your room. Due to limited cell phone service and wifi in our area, we recommend viewing these instructions before arriving to our center or before departing the town of Pahoa (20 minutes away and the last reliable cell service area).
Check out is at 11 am. Late check out requests are subject to availability and cost $30 per room for a check out as late as 3 pm. Late check outs can be requested at our Hale Aloha shop and front desk or by emailing [email protected].
Due to same day departures and arrivals, we may be unable to offer late check outs, though you’re welcome to check out of your room and remain on campus until 5 pm on the day of your check out free of charge. Please return room keys to their lock box upon departure. Please note a failure to check out by 11:30 am without a request will result in a fee of $100. Failure to check out by 3 pm or later will result in a charge of another night’s stay.
Our accommodations are rustic and simple, “jungle-chic” as we like to say! Rooms are not equipped with air conditioning, as we benefit from consistent east-to-west Pacific trade winds and place fans in each room. Included in each lodging stay is access to our plentiful nature walking paths and opportunities to attend daily community classes such as yoga, dance, and art that are available during your stay, with many offered for a nominal fee and some offered on a free or donation basis.
The Hilo International Airport is the closest airport to our center and is about a 1 hour drive away. The Kona International Airport on the other side of the island is about a 2.5 hour drive away. Please plan your driving times and flight times accordingly.
We highly recommend that guests rent a vehicle during their stay with our center. Renting a vehicle allows for guests to explore the hidden gems of our rural area and to have greater access to restaurants in Pāhoa town. Ride services such as Uber or Lyft are uncommon in our area and are not a reliable source of transportation due to this lack of availability. For guests who prefer to take the local bus, the island’s bus operator is called Hele-On and their schedules can be found online. The stop nearest to our center is Seaview Estates, about a 10 minute walk from our Hale Aloha shop and front desk. Please note routes to and from our area can be infrequent so please plan accordingly with the schedules provided by Hele-On.
We can connect you with trusted independent drivers that live locally and can coordinate an airport pick up or drop off for $95 per person per journey from the Hilo airport. These drivers do not service the Kona airport at this time and we would recommend exploring vehicle rentals since rideshare and taxi services are limited in our area. If you would like for us to assist with coordinating a Hilo airport pick up or drop off for you, please let us know your estimated arrival/departure time and flight number with at least 48 hours advance notice and we can connect you with an available driver. Please note as independent drivers, payments for services are provided by guests directly to drivers.
There is a mini fridge, microwave, French press, electric kettle, and mugs included in each cottage. Snacks, coffee, ice cream, and other local goods can be purchased at our Hale Aloha shop during open hours. We do not offer meal services at this time and do not have additional cooking equipment inside of cottages. If you may be joining us as a retreat participant, please inquire with us or your retreat facilitator directly to learn about meal plans that may be available during your retreat. We recommend the local farmer’s markets, and the variety of restaurants and grocery stores in artistic Pāhoa town 20 minutes away. We recommend renting a car for guests who appreciate the independence to explore the hidden gems of our rural area, and to have greater access to meal and shopping options in town as well.
Complimentary WiFi is available in guest rooms and at our Hale Aloha shop. Our internet connection is suitable for most general use, however is sometimes inconsistent given our jungle environment and can be spotty for streaming and video conferencing. Mobile phone reception is also variable with only certain networks like AT&T able to receive a signal locally. This can be a wonderful space to embrace the connection to community, culture and nature, rather than the virtual world. Please reach out to us with any specific questions or concerns about connectivity during your stay.
Each cottage is artistically designed and the photos on our website gallery include several separate cottages to showcase the variety of unique designs at our center. Please note that cottages are reserved based on availability at the time of booking which may influence the style available. Please let us know if you have a preference and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
The tap water for our cottages is from our well and, due to our close location to the ocean, is brackish. This means that tap water is best for showering or brushing teeth, and the drinking water provided in rooms and at stations in Hale Aloha and the Blue Moon Room are best for drinking. We encourage guests to bring along a reusable water bottle to refill at theses stations. We do not sell plastic water bottles in our Hale Aloha shop.
Our island community intimately knows the importance of mindfully using the limited resources in our Pacific paradise, and we hope guests stays can provide an opportunity for visitor’s to learn about our island’s management of resources as well. Each cottage is provided a trash bin as well as a recycling bin within their room. If bins become full during your stay, we request that you assist with placing rubbish or recyclable materials in the outdoor resource management bins in each lodging area noted on the map. Each resource management area has detailed signage for each of the four types of sorting we use for guest spaces: Beverage Containers, All Other Glass, Cardboard / Paper, and Non-Recyclables (Trash). Reviewing these signs can provide information on how to best sort recyclables and rubbish during your stay. At this time, we do not have a centralized composting option for guest rooms and ask that guests place food waste in the Non-Recyclables bin. If you need additional trash bin bags or have any other questions on sorting, please let our Hale Aloha team or [email protected] know. We appreciate you doing your part to keep our environment clean and recycling applicable items!
To receive a full refund, guests must cancel at least 30 days before check-in. If guests cancel between 7 and 30 days before check-in, 50% of the reservation will be charged to the card on file and 50% will be refunded to the card on file. If guests cancel less than 7 days before check-in, 100% of the reservation or full amount will be charged to the card on file. Guests can also receive a full refund if they cancel within 48 hours of booking, if the cancellation occurs at least 14 days before check-in. Please let us know if you have any questions surrounding our Cancellation Policy by contacting [email protected].
There are countless wonderful things to do on our diverse island and numerous incredible locally owned companies! We recommend exploring our Kalani Guidebook on Airbnb to see some of our recommendations for local sites and activities. If you’re interested in a guided excursion in our area, we suggest exploring Send It Tours. If you’d like to learn more about things to do in our area, you’re welcome to ask our Hale Aloha team during your stay or email [email protected] as we love giving recommendations to guests.
There are various ways to participate in responsible travel while on the Hawaiian islands. We recommend exploring the Responsible Travel Guide produced by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA) which contains tips for connecting with Hawaiian culture, supporting local businesses, and protecting our unique environment. We also suggest signing the Pono Pledge, an educational tool developed by the Island of Hawai’i Visitor Bureau that provides guests with the best practices of travel founded on Hawaiian principles of stewardship. We also recommend learning more about Hawaiian culture and the Hawaiian language (‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i). If there are hula, weaving or language classes available during your visit to Kalani, we highly recommend joining in this unique cultural learning opportunity. If you hope to learn a few words in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i before or during your stay, we suggest the guide prepared by HTA as well. For those looking at the global impact of their choice to travel to Hawai’i, the Carbon Buddy Calculator allows visitors to tally their emissions as well as contribute to carbon offset projects in Hawai’i and around the world. Last but not least, you’re also welcome to join us in giving back to the land and learning about our local environment by participating in Kalani’s weekly Garden Club projects listed on our Calendar.
Guests can request additional towels, drinking water, linens, or other requests by speaking with a team member at our Hale Aloha shop during the open hours of 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily, calling our team at (808) 756 – 9530, or sending an email to [email protected]. Please note housekeeping services will be offered “retreat style,” where linens are provided upon arrival and laundered once each week, but your room accommodation will not be maintained on a daily basis by our housekeeping team.
If you may have any questions surrounding an upcoming reservation with our center, please email us at [email protected] or call us at (808) 756 – 9530, and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
If you may have a need or any feedback that is affecting your current guest stay with us, please let us know as soon as possible so we can work on remedying your concern and making your stay more comfortable. You can reach out with any needs or feedback by speaking with a team member at our Hale Aloha shop during the open hours of 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily, calling our team at (808) 756 – 9530, or sending an email to [email protected]. If you would like to provide feedback about your recently completed stay with us and help us to improve our guest experience, you’re welcome to fill out our online survey.
Local environment inquiries
Our rural coastal forest location provides us with an incredible opportunity to be in touch with surrounding nature and appreciate the beauty of thriving plants and wildlife. A symphony of bird songs are likely to greet you in the morning and our campus has various garden beds, tropical fruit trees, medicinal plants, fragrant flowers, and native Hawaiian species throughout its landscapes. Plan on seeing lots of small, harmless animals like geckos, spiders, insects and mongoose on our grounds. You may also encounter wild pigs on site which like to dig in the dirt and wander through the forest. They are typically harmless and frightened easily by human presence, though we do ask guests to please not approach or feed pigs. If you would like to learn more about plants and wildlife you may encounter during your stay, we recommend exploring our Plants and Animals page.
The weather on Hawai’i island is as diverse as our landscapes and communities! Although we can offer some insight into common weather patterns on the island of Hawai’i, we always recommend checking a reliable weather service for forecasts that may be expected during your exact visit dates. Our tropical island’s location is fairly close to the equator, which means that we enjoy mild temperatures, pleasant ocean water temperatures, and a consistent length of daylight during the year. Kalani is located on the East side of the island, which is known for receiving a mix of sun and rain, and having a lush lowland mesic forest type of environment. There are two main seasons of each year, the wet (November – April) and the dry (May – October). In the wet / winter season, temperatures are often 79–83 °F (26–28 °C) during the day with short bursts of rain, and getting a bit cooler in the evenings, though it’s very rare for evening temperatures to drop below 65 °F (18 °C). During the dry / summer season days can be warmer and drier with temperatures being between 85–90 °F (29–32 °C) most days. Although tropical rains do reach our area regularly and keep our environment green, we’re also blessed by nearly daily sun and Eastern trade winds paired with coastal breezes to keep us cool. We recommend looking into what time of year you’ll be visiting us to know what amount of rainfall to generally expect, and being prepared for a variety of weather during your stay, especially if you may be visiting other parts of the island.
We recommend packing for the wide range of experiences and climates the island of Hawai’i offers. We suggest bringing along items such as: personal toiletries (we provide eco-friendly shampoo, conditioner and body soap in cottages, and have a few options for sale at our Hale Aloha shop as well), a reusable drinking water bottle, reef-safe sunscreen to protect our oceans, bug spray and/or bite ointment (we do live in a dense forest which means bugs are part of our natural environment), a rain jacket or poncho for tropical downpours, and a headlamp or flashlight as we limit artificial lighting at night to improve star gazing and Milky Way galaxy visibility. Please let us know if you have any other additional questions related to what to bring for your visit by emailing [email protected].
Our coastline offers many unique natural wonders such as lava fields from the 2018 lava eruption in our area, geothermal ponds, tidal pools and black sand beaches. The nearest beach to our center is called Kehena, about 1.4 miles / 2.25 km from our center (a 5 minute drive and 30 minute walk). Please note this particular beach is clothing optional. The current at this beach is best for intermediate or advanced swimmers and offers beautiful snorkeling not far from the shore. For beginning swimmers or youth we recommend visiting the tide pools along the Red Road (about 10 minutes by car) or the Pohoiki Warm Ponds (natural geothermal heated pools about 15 minutes away by car). Please let us know if you’d like to learn more about our local surroundings and natural sites as we enjoy providing recommendations based on specific guest needs or desires.
We have a variety of forest trails and walking paths on our property, with developments such as further trail signage and forest restoration in progress. Please note these paths have uneven terrain and guest explorers are recommended to be mindful of their steps and of current maps and signage while walking at Kalani. Along the Red Road coastal area on the scenic Highway 137, there is a walking path connecting MacKenzie State Recreation Area and the Malama Kī Forest Reserve along the ocean (< 1 hour), as well as a short walk to Kaimū beach from the Uncle Robert’s parking area along a path with young coconut palms and decorative attributes to historical leaders from the Hawaiian Kingdom (c. 15 minutes). If you’re looking for some longer walks within the region of Puna, there is the 2.5 mile (4 km) hike to Hā’ena Beach (also known as Shipman’s) in Keaʻau which traverses through (a sometimes muddy) forest and ends at a secluded sandy beach. There is also the variety of picturesque trails and back country hikes in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, located about a 1 hour and 15 minute drive from our center. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a fantastic park that offers insight into our island’s unique geology with steam vents, craters, high elevation forests, occasionally active lava, and walking paths for various physical abilities available. There are many paths to choose from and we hope you have fun exploring our area!
We have garden beds with taro, cassava and sweet potato, tropical fruit trees like avocado, coconut, soursop, mango and citrus, medicinal plants like comfrey, noni and lemongrass, fragrant flowers like ylang ylang and puakenikeni, and native Hawaiian species like ʻōhiʻa lehua and hala growing throughout our property. If you would like to learn more about the plants you may encounter during your stay, we recommend joining our weekly Garden Club on the class calendar to get your hands dirty, viewing our harvest records and agricultural opportunities on our Farm page, and exploring our Plants and Animals page with listings for many of the plants you’ll find.
Numerous bird species such as saffron finches, warbling white-eyes, cardinals, hawks, and owls sing to us daily or soar across the skies. Across our grounds many creatures such as geckos, insects, mongoose and wild pigs call this area home as well. In the ocean waters just across the road a multitude of fish and other marine creatures like turtles, dolphins and whales can be found. If you would like to learn more about plants and wildlife you may encounter during your stay, we recommend exploring our Plants and Animals page.
There are a few items to keep in mind as you traverse our island since some safety concerns may be common in any destination or may be unique to our tropical environment.
When hiking and exploring nature, please remember to stay on marked trails, keep away from cliff edges, and bring a flashlight when walking in the dark. Please be mindful of any signage that may say ‘Kapu’ as this is equivalent with saying ‘Stay Out’ or ‘Forbidden’. These signs are often placed to protect cultural heritage sites and we appreciate your participation in respecting and caring for these local sacred spaces.
The ocean is another arena to respect as currents can be powerful and certain areas are dangerous for swimming. We recommend never turning your back to the ocean as waves can be unpredictable, keeping a safe distance from marine life, and swimming with a friend in case you should need any help. For more information about a particular beach, ask the local lifeguard for more information about how to safely enjoy the area or research conditions ahead of time.
You may encounter wild pigs on our property which like to dig in the dirt and wander through the forest. They are typically harmless and frightened easily by human presence, though we do ask guests to please not approach or feed pigs. We recommend thoroughly washing local produce before consuming it as Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Rat Lungworm) is prevalent in our part of the island and eating unwashed produce can cause serious illness. Occasionally natural disasters such as hurricanes, tsunamis, wildfires or lava eruptions may threaten our communities. We stay informed through Hawai’i County Civil Defense alerts and encourage you to do the same should a natural disaster occur during your visit to the island.
General travel precautions and personal safety measures such as keeping valuables in your room (rather than brought into public areas), locking your room door, locking your car doors, and keeping an eye on your belongings while at the beach, are as applicable here as at home. In an emergency please dial 911. Please also note the location of the fire extinguisher for your room. First Aid kits are located at Hale Aloha as are additional health items for purchase. Please let us know if you have any particular questions or concerns around safety during your visit.
Discover our center
GUEST LODGING
Artistic private cottages in our lush tropical environment can be booked for lodging stays.
SPA SERVICES
Massage therapy and additional wellness services are offered by our talented team of practitioners.
DAILY CLASSES
A schedule of classes are available each week. Participate in yoga, meditation, dance, art and more!
Looking for more information?
If you may have an additional question for our team that is not addressed here, please visit our Contact Us page for more options to get in touch with us or to submit an inquiry. We look forward to connecting with you soon!
