Hawaiian Sanctuary Eco Retreat Center

My family and I checked in on February 17, excited for our 3-night stay in what was supposed to be a Deluxe Premium Cabin, as we reserved. It was advertised on their website with a private bathroom, kitchen, and our own little patio. Our room given had no windows (yep, ZERO), and it was freezing cold at night—like, 55 degrees freezing. No private bathroom. We had to share with others. No kitchen, no patio, nothing we were promised. We complained, hoping for the room we booked, but got nowhere. We decided to leave the next day. The hotel said they'd refund us, but now it's February 29, and we're still waiting. They've ghosted us—no replies to emails or calls. We had to get our travel agency to chase down our refund. Long story short: If you're looking for a good time, skip this place. It's a letdown and way off from what they promise. We learned the hard way to double-check where we're staying next time.

My 19 year-old-daughter and I celebrated my 65th birthday with a 3-night stay a Hawaiian Sanctuary and loved it. We were warmly greeted, by pre-arrangement, by Laxmi who showed us to our room in the main pavillion and gave us a tour of the "campus." The place was clean and super welcoming. Our queen bed room with a sink and mini-fridge was steps away from the nice shared bathroom and the heavenly spa room with sauna, hot tub and shower that we used every day. We cooked our breakfasts and dinners in the kitchen shared with staff and interns which was fun and made us feel part of the community, despite our only staying 3 nights. Easy drives to hot pools on the beach created by the 2018 eruption and a magnificent and very swimmable black sand beach, plus the town of Pahoa with an interesting Lava Zone Museum staffed by knowledgeable volunteers. I highly recommend a stay at Hawaiian Sanctuary Retreat.

Hawaiian Sanctuary Retreat Center is truly enchanting, a place where nature thrives in a permaculture haven. The facility offers a magical experience with clean and comfortable rooms, a private spa, and the freedom to explore lush surroundings with peacocks, turkeys, and chickens. The variety of activities, from yoga and ecstatic dances to insightful classes, creates a vibrant and tight-knit community. It was a unique experience for us to stay in Big Island for two nights. This sanctuary is a gem, offering a raw and beautiful Hawaiian permaculture experience, highly recommended for those seeking relaxation and a break from ordinary life. The farm-to-table food, cozy rooms, and engaging activities make it an ideal retreat and starting point for exploration in the heart of nature. I would love to try there again once I'm back to the Island.

I unfortunately had the worst lodging experience of my life here. Other than the automated emails and texts, everyone was so unwelcoming. No one wanted to help me. My cabin was disgusting: door did not lock, sheets not washed (I could smell the sweat from prior guests), shower not cleaned, hot water only worked some of the time. I let them know that my fire alarm was ripped out but no one cared. Ants were everywhere. There was a man at the cafe who made me feel like a bother, his energy made me want to run. So many people were doing ***** around me, when I looked into peoples eyes I saw such immense depression and a desperation for help. No one cared to help me know of the event calendar so couldn’t even partake in any of the activities. The area it is in is very creative but also very dodgy. I saw 3 brawls during daylight 1 ft in front of me. I went to get food at night, 5 different men kept coming up to me and one even grabbed my shoulder. I went to get breakfast and felt so unwelcomed. Then the chef came in to the front area demanding compensation because I guess they are not compensating her for her services….It was SO upsetting experiencing this because I was so excited coming into my stay from all the great reviews. Maybe this place was great at one point but now, especially if you’re a solo female traveler like me, don’t come anywhere close. This is not a sanctuary. Also, before posting this review I emailed and texted my experience to their general manager and main reservations team and my point of contact at the lodging area…as you guessed, no one cared.

Just spent a blissful few days at the Hawaiian Sanctuary. We only booked 2 nights since this was out of our normal vacation experience so thought we would check it out. Let me tell you, it was too short! The premises is beautiful, lush and so full- full of good energy, full of great character! The sense of community was so beautiful. In particular the community kitchen was awesome - the current chef Lindsay is a hoot! His persona and energy and life story is so inspiring! If you like to live free and experience solitude this is the place for you. Very basic yet enriching. Stay with an open mind