Hawaii Island Retreat at Ahu Pohaku Ho'omaluhia

Hawaii Island Retreat has eight guest rooms and suites within the main building as well as a number of spacious yurt hales (bungalows) located within a needled ironwood grove adjacent to the pool or Hawaiian spa complex.

Each of the formal guestrooms and suites is individually named after flowers found in Hawaii and decorated with turn-of-the-century Hawai'i furniture. Each features a private balcony or garden.

In addition each room features fresh flowers; a CD player; organic bamboo spa robes; personal water bottle; laundry and maid service for individual guests; organic shampoo, condition, and lotion for use during your stay; and green living card with additional recommendations for living in harmony with the land.

Wireless internet is available in all public areas. Self-parking is complimentary and breakfast for two is included.

Central to the concept of Hawaii Island Retreat is their spa services, overseen by Jeanne Sunderland, one of Hawaii's top spa therapists.

Hawaii Island Retreat offers a distinctive menu of Hawaiian treatments and massage either in the retreat's spacious massage and treatment room, or in our garden Spa complex, complete with infinity pool, hot tub, fitness room, and infrared sauna. Spa treatments are also available in guest rooms or in individual outdoor spa hale (bungalows), nestled within a pine forest.

Hawaiian and other traditional, holistic treatments and massages are offered. Theinnkeepers have defined three unique and healing treatment pathways "to assist you in your own journey to wellness." These pathways are:

Ho'oku'u: The Path of Liberation: cleansing, soothing, and detoxifying
Ku'ulani: The Path of Heaven: harmonizing, balancing, and couples massage
Kuakino: The Path of Transformation: for body, mind, and spirit

You can read more about specific treatments offered on their excellent website.

In addition to these spa treatments and services, Hawaii Island Retreat offers spa vacation packages, spa classes, custom spa retreats, spa talks, and spa articles.

The fifty-acre Hawaii Island Retreat has found a way to offer a luxury boutique hotel and spa that exists in balance with the earth. They are, perhaps, the most eco-friendly resort in Hawaii.

Hawaii Island Retreat produces 100% of their own electricity with their modern solar energy system. Water conservation is accomplished with low-water toilets, special showers, and conscientious use of water throughout the hotel and spa.

The Retreat has abundant organic vegetable gardens and tropical fruit orchards that produce much of the food used in their kitchen where all waste is composted for return into the soil. They also feature fresh organic eggs and goat cheese from their farm, as well as seafood fresh from Hawaiian waters.

Safe paper products, free of harmful chemicals, dyes, or perfumes are employed which are then shredded and recycled as mulch on garden paths and banana orchards.

Cross-ventilation and ceiling fans in the lodge and spa buildings capture the Kohala breezes, eliminating the need for air conditioning. Guest rooms are kept warm when the outside air is cool and cool when temperatures are warm.

You can read more about their eco-hotel initiative on their website.

Hawaii Island Retreat is located near the small country village of Hawi, in the historic district of North Kohala on Hawaii's Big Island.

Their mailing address is:

Hawaii Island Retreat
PO Box 189
Hawi, Hawaii, 96719

For reservations call 808-889-6336 or email them from their website.

Their excellent website can be found at www.hawaiiislandretreat.com/.

At the time of this writing in December 2009, rates range from $275 per night for the ground floor Rose Waterlily room to $450 per night for the Golden Penthouse. Check their rates and reservations page for current pricing and any existing specials.

As I said, the Hawaii Island Retreat is not like any of the mega resorts that you'll find on the Big Island's Kohala Coast and it's not for everyone. It is, however, quite possibly, perfect for you is you're looking to get away from the crowds and experience the beauty of North Kohala in a serene and peaceful setting with hosts who will make you feel like you're a member of their family.

You can view our gallery of 36 photos taken at the Hawaii Island Retreat.