Hawaiian Sanctuary Eco Retreat Center

Not just a hotel - a community. I felt so relaxed the second I arrived. The place is beautiful and well kept, and it houses folks staying monthly for courses and internships and what not, so lots of people to talk to. Felt like staying in a social hostel, with the comfort of a hotel. Some other reviews described it as dirty - you have to realize that a space so tucked away in the jungle will naturally have bugs and whatnot. Plus it's a nonprofit doing it's best, so you're not going to get the perfect cleanliness of some luxury hotel in Waikiki. However, I live in the jungle myself and was wildly impressed by how clean everything was. The spa room especially was pristine - and how lovely that you can reserve it all for yourself (do know there's a limit of 1 hour a day, but that's plenty). The yoga class I took (from Sydney I think?) was so lovely, and the Bee Dance on Friday was fantastic. If you're a young backpacker type, this is the place to be. Lots of locals come from the dance, and it's a great way to meet people (fire going in the back with goodies to eat and drink). Or if you don't love electronic music, it's far enough away from the main building for it not to trouble you - you'll hear some music in the distance. I'll certainly be back!

Alex the very rude want to be security guard harassed me a few weeks ago at Bee Dance Friday night. I also recently stayed here for 1 night to have a relaxing staycation. Absolutely NOT worth the money. Super dusty room. All the windows were full of dust and dead bugs, the bed head board was disgusting!! Probably hadn't been cleaned in years. The refrigerator was not plugged in upon arrival so none of my food was cold. I was hoping to have a relaxing time in the hot tub, but when I arrived it was full if screaming kids.. Between the extremely rude staff (Alex) specifically, the dirty room, and overrun hot tub, I would definitely NOT recommend this place.

The onsite manager Lakshmi was very friendly and helpful. Room was simple and sufficient. Shared bathrooms were clean. Nice to have a sink in the room. Wandering the property in the morning amusing to watch the peacocks and chickens. We were there on a Monday night and were the only guests and were only there for 11 hours — didn’t do any classes and left before cafe opened. Another reviewer described it as a step up from camping which I think is accurate

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.

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.