My fiancé and i got this deal on Living Social. We had an amazing experience. We stayed for 4 days. Yoga each day.. the grounds were so pretty. Hammocks everywhere. The rooms are super bare bones but definitely had their charm. Food was served at specific times of the day and made with fresh local ingredients. They have a lot of volunteer staff that trade their stay for work which was nice because it seemed like everyone wanted to be there. Everyone felt like family. This is NOT a place for you to drink margaritas on the beach! In fact, there wasn't any alcohol... fortunately i always travel with a few bottle for just an occasion. Very tranquil, very friendly. Highly recommend. :) read more

I've been visiting Kalani for almost 10 years, and it gets better every time. For being out in the middle of the jungle, this place is a rare oasis of comfort and aloha. The cafeteria style food is incredible ( even for vegetarians), the pool, jacuzzis, and sauna are delightful, but my favorite is the "watsu pool"- a form of aquatic therapy where the body is floated and moved in body temp warm water. Try the aquatic movement classes also in the watsu pool. The yoga program is varied- classes for the advanced and beginner yogi. The grounds are lush, but well kept, and have many fruiting trees, as well as an aquaponics array for growing vegetables and herbs. Try the nature tour on mondays to learn about the amazing flora of hawaii... Or hawaiian culture classes like weaving and hula. I try to stay in hale 4 if i'm with a group of friends, the cabanas if i'm watching my budget, and kalani kai - the oceanview cottages if i'm with my lover, or want total peace and quiet away from all the activity. My favorite modern oceanview cottage is K9 -3 which has a lovely jungly outdoor shower. read more

Kalani - view from oceanview cottage k9-3 - Yoga Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

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Fantastic one of a kind place. Dinner out on the lanai under the tiki torches feels like OLDTIME Hawaii. Great brunch buffet as well.

I love this place! I first stayed at Kalani in October 2011 and have been back twice since. The food is amazing and location is true paradise. You're in the middle of the jungle - so you have to be ok with a few bugs here and there - but the spot is overflowing with life and positive energy. The staff has become like an extended family. I've stayed at plenty of five star resorts, but there's nothing quite like hugging the front desk receptionist as you leave for the airport. It makes the whole experience so much more intimate and meaningful. There's an energy on the Big Island that promotes healing and growth and Kalani has found a way to harness and share it. Keep up the great work!! read more

I stayed here in December with my family. We stayed here to be a part of the artistic community and to try out some classes. I LOVED the dance classes. (I did hoop dancing, hula dance and belly dance with Delilah.) Some people tell you that it is a "gay" resort. I experienced a mixed community with the vast majority being straight singles (with a few couples and the odd family.) But gay or straight, everyone made me feel comfortable and welcome. And, more importantly, everyone was really really nice to my baby. The weather was perfect and the food was amazing. This is a great place to stay if you are looking to try new classes, meet new people or to get healthy. read more

Today Annalisa interview me for the second time for a volunteer position. It was not an interview, it was a interrogation. It's incredible that in 2017 someone can be so ignorant about HIV. She question my ability to work 30 hours. She ask a lot of inappropriate questions that made me feel like I was back in the early stages of the epidemic. Yes Annalisa we can work 30 hours a week and we can do a lot of things for others people. You should get some education about HIV. Now the 50 dollars you say you will return to me please donated to and HIV organización in Hawaii. I'm so sorry that Kalani has gone so sour. read more

Excellent food, excellent service, friendly staff, beautiful nature, lot of possibilities for hobbies. But housing was poorly insulated so that even the slightest footsteps were heard in the whole house; window glasses were replaced by nets, and even if the houses were well kept, rooms were relatively small and furnitures modest. Because of the "close to nature" -feel of the house, insects and lizards made their ways to the rooms. Don't let this put you off, though. It was a very nice place full of beautiful, compassionate people. read more

The evolutionary process of Kalani Honua has it adding another star every 5 years or so. The aerial acrobatic class, had me seeing to many stars, and my muscles are still recovering in places, but Wailana is creating a progression to allow even a beginner to participate at their fullest extent and more. The magic seems to be in how present we become when for the moment we are fully absorbed by this wonderful reality. Spectacular fire ball dancers ignited a deeper awareness of how this living artistry of creative exploration lives here, as it is inspired by this place and the community that has brought this dream to life. read more

I went for a yoga retreat that my local studio was hosting. The grounds are beautiful and the food is quite good but the accommodations are very sparse and even upgrading my room didn't give me air conditioning which would have been nice due to the almost constant heat/humidity. read more

I attended a Yoga Teacher Training at Kalani right after college. It's been three years and I can say it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Life changing experience, magical place. read more

Drove here for some yoga. Waited 20 min past the scheduled time. No instructor showed up. When asked at the front desk they acted ambivalent and dismissive. I will not trust in the yoga here read more

A friend and I tried this for a four day yoga trip from an on-line deal. We had such a good time that we will for sure go back. It's not the type of hotel our husbands would enjoy....but for our annual girls trip it was perfect. We arrived on the island on a later flight. We called ahead to make sure they knew of our late arrival. The security guy was expecting us and he was very nice. We had a nice bungalow that is kind of like a duplex. It sat above ground level and had a beautiful view of the surrounding jungle. The room was clean and tidy. There is no glass in the windows. They are screened. That let in the fresh Hawaii air. We had a gecko in our room which actually made me feel better because I know they eat insects. No TV and our Verizon cell phones didn't work. But that was actually relaxing. Wifi worked great. The food was delicious and all the staff was very nice. The yoga was more than we could have hoped for. We got to try a few different styles of yoga that enhanced our practice. There were so many other activities that we would have like to do, but 4 days was really too short. We went snorkeling at the nearby tidal pools with reasonably priced rental gear. They were very pretty. A word of warning. Bring swim socks or some tennies for the tidal pools. It is all lava rock and is impossible to walk on in flip flops and so painful in bare feet. As to the negative comments I read about on this site and others. Take them with a grain of salt. The clothing optional pool was..well..enlightening. Not my thing, but I sort of wished I could be so unfettered. There were as many people who were starkers as there were in bathing suits. So be prepared. About being a "gay" resort. It's not. There were some gay men and women. But really not many. All were respectful of others so no different from daily life. Yes, there was no air conditioning. But we only felt hot a few times. On our second night there, it sounded like Sasquatch was crashing around in the jungle around our bungalow. The next morning when we went to the office to pay for breakfast, the lady working asked how we were enjoying our stay. We told her about the scary noises and learned it was a pig...whew. One last thing, bring good earplugs. The frogs go from sundown until sunup. And they are soooo loud. This was a very relaxing 4 days. And we will for sure visit this delightful resort again. read more

Food was fantastic. Very fresh, nice selection, good quality and taste and the seating on the covered lanai made for a pleasant setting. Customer service. The employees (especially Michelle and Matt) and volunteers were very helpful and informative. They ate with us and we even ran into them at the pool and a workshop. They brought an international presence to the property. Grounds. The facility is on an almost level piece of land. The trails through the trees and growth made for a very rustic setting. Pool was good for both lap swimming and general hanging out. Plenty of showers and restrooms close by. Room. We stayed in the Tree House, which is not really in a tree but a second story room with high ceilings, wonderfully large screened window openings wall to wall. We looked out over a pasture with horses and could hear the waves crashing on the shore a few hundred yards away. The room could use some updates, especially the bathroom, but all things considered, it did the job. Bed was large and mattress comfortable. read more

Kalani is more than just a beautiful tropical retreat center full of healthy and healing things to do with a delicious cuisine of locally-sourced foods. In addition to a varied selection of interesting yoga and other classes, if my need was to soak in a hot-tub, swim laps in the large pool, quietly work on my next blog, get a sublime massage for a reasonable price or explore one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, I had it all ... such an exquisitely harmonious place to be off the grid. I am grateful for the experience and sure I will be back again and again! The Kalani experience, its community of staff and volunteers (with their amazing mix of aloha spirit and karma yoga), and its open interactions with the surrounding Puna community are all impressive expressions of the healing power of this unique place. -- Paul O'Brien, author read more

Disappointed! We recently spend a week at Kalani. After looking at the website we decided that it would be a great place for a vacation. Here are the positive and negative comments we have. 1. We did not realize that it was a 90% GAY retreat. We feel that this information should be included clearly on the front page of the website. Our biggest issue is not with anyone that is gay, it's that people were not friendly at all. We felt like outcasts. 2. The staff and volunteers did not make us feel welcome. In the six days that we spent at Kalani, we met a total of three of them; the co-founder being the nicest. We have been to many other all-inclusive resorts where the staff has been extremely helpful and nice and we end up personally knowing them by the end of the trip. At Kalani, in an effort to meet volunteers or guests, we would smile in passing, only to receive a grumpy look in response which does not resonate with the warm and fuzzy Kalani philosophy that so many other people have appraised. 3. There was no way to decipher between the staff and guests which made it difficult to ask for assistance when needed. 4. Our room was semi-clean, however, we did have a problem with worms on our bed and shower. However, the bamboo room that we were in was really beautiful. 5. We were invited to a party in the "Field of Dreams" in the evening. While the event was fun with a live band and fire spinning, we did not realize until the next day in the "light of day" that the sofa's in the band area were covered in black mold and we were concerned about the health issues. 6. The yoga studio has been touted as some of the best in the world. We did not find this to be true at all. 7. If you are looking for privacy, this is not the place for you. There were no black-out blinds on our windows and you could see right thru them. 8. As we tried to make the best of our experience, we did not have the religious experience that most people have at Kalani unfortunately and are honestly shocked by the reviews. Bottom line, to each his own. Do your research. Click into the diversity page because we didn't. On a more positive note, we loved: 1. The Watsu Pool experience with Sarah Joy was amazing to say the least. Our best experience. 2. We really enjoyed our massages with Stephanie. 3. The food was healthy and very good. 4. The commune environment Kalani is trying to create is appreciated and we did like that part of the trip. In closing, it's a very RUSTIC, large retreat. If you are looking for five stars, this is not the place for you. read more

This place is magical! The location, facilities, volunteers, locals, guests and programs are a tapestry of color, texture, variety, acceptance and health. I entered Kalani, a work-aholic webmaster living in a one bedroom apartment in Boston, for a 3 month volunteer program at Kalaini (I stayed for 5 months and only returned to Boston to take care of my subleted apartment). Suddenly my home was not only the private A-frame in a tropical setting but the whole community of Kalani including pools, hottubs, sauna, massage rooms acres of tropical outdoor beauty, fellow volunteers and guests, the local nude beach teaming with drums, surf, whales, dolphins and turtles to swim with. Estatic dances on lava for full moons, yoga, shamans, sweat lodges, scottish dancing, clairvoyance workshop, lomi lomi massage training, scuba training, hitchhike to local village of pahoa. My life was changed for the better with my 5 month stay at Kalani and I always look forward to getting back for a tune-up and meeting new life-long friends by living in community in paradise. read more

Kalani resort is a nature oriented resort that provides a natural experience. Don't expect a lot of amenities, but do expect to be in a very natural environment. We got upgraded to a Tree House Room from a Bungalow. It was clean. There were screens but not windows so there is always outside air moving through, & at night, there is a concert of insect & bird sounds, the air, the sky & the ocean waves a few hundred feet away. I felt very uplifted with this background noise & loved it. It rained every night but the days were sunny. Our room was not ocean view but it was walking distance, and there were some nice ocean view places nearby to sit & listen & see the waves. We did not visit the clothing optional pool. The buffet food was majority vegetarian & overall healthy. I liked the food a lot though my wife who prefers spicier vegetarian to bland food thought it was limited. Many people staying there were taking some of the classes. There are many activities there. One note on the room - sounds from adjacent rooms can be heard, so you may not get full sound privacy. The experience here is different, & a nice complement to the standard hotels around the island. Volcanoes park was about 45min away. By the way, Wi-Fi & phone service did not reach our room. read more

Kalani is one of my favorite places on the planet. Their Sunday morning Ecstatic Dance is the best community dance event I have ever attended anywhere (including NYC, LA, San Fran, Denver/Boulder, Santa Cruz, and etc.). The dance takes place in a large open air (but screened) pavilion with hardwood floors and an incredible view of the ocean. There is a truly beautiful community altar full of mana (Hawaiian for "spirit") that grows abundant during the dance from participants' offerings (bells, flowers, fruit, drawings, essential oils, incense, stones, etc.). I could imagine this is possibly not the place or the event for everyone, as there is definitely a bohemian/free spirited feel to the resort and the community, but if that appeals to you, then a visit to Kalani could be life changing. If you leave the dance a little bit early (or stay overnight at the retreat center) it is possible to have a meal on site, which I also recommend--many vegetarian/vegan/wholesome options prepared with aloha by volunteers who live on the land. Thank you Kalani for some of the most beautiful days of my life... read more

WE ARE GETTING MARRIED AT KALANI ON OCTOBER 20, 2013 !!!! We did a recon trip February 20-23, 2013. We cannot wait to share the beauty and power of Kalani and the Puna coast with our family, friends and loved ones. Our most recent trip was wonderful. We started with Watsu massages so that our bodies, minds and spirits could quickly adjust form the LA lifestyle to the Kalani lifestyle. By 10:15 a.m. my first day, after my 90 minute Watsu massage at 8:45 a.m., I was Kalani'd. We watched the sunrise from our Ocean View lanai, we watched the moonrise from our ocean view lanai. We ate like kings, oatmeal and fruit bar every morning, amazing salads and dressings from the salad bar every lunch and dinner. The poppyseed lilikoi poundcake with whipped cream frosting was amazing as was the peach cobbler. The volunteers were all wonderful and so nice and friendly. When you are at Kalani there is nothing to worry about other than not missing meal times. We love you Kalani, NEVER CHANGE !!!! read more

I spent a week in Kalani on Holiday Retreat and already planning returning next year. I have never been to a place where every person I encountered was so friendly and open hearted. It is not a posh spa, if you're looking for spa/resort vacation, Kalani would not be your place. If you like yoga, enjoy quite time, meeting people that are in touch with their inner selves and nature, you will enjoy your stay. I loved every minute; Will, our yoga teacher, is awesome, inspirational and caring, food was INCREDIBLE, and watsu treatment unforgettable. And people that I met in Kalani were the best part of my stay! read more

Kalani is a great place with a relaxed, hippie sort of feel to things. The staff went out of their way to arrange transport, activities and food requests for us (my mom, sister and I). I loved the food, the grounds, facilities and yoga. We stayed in the lodge room and had no complaints. The Kalani Experience was good value, with the option of interchanging the massage with the excursions. If the excursions were done a la carte, the $65 charge for a 1/2 day trip would have seemed overpriced. I would definitely recommend this place and would be happy to return again. read more

Kalani is one of the most magical places on earth to me....from the lovely people, to the beauty of the land, to the delicious food, to the sunrises over the navy ocean where sea turtles and dolphins swim freely. It changes you. It calms you. It enlivens you. It allows you to be you. GO! LIVE! LOVE! read more

Kalani is paradise on earth. To spend time there is to experience a life changing event. Everyone is incredibly welcoming, the grounds are well-kept, the rooms and clean and the food is beyond fantastic. I came for a yoga retreat and stayed a week. I'd love to go back for a month. Highly recommended for someone who truly wants to disconnect. read more

Kalani is not for the traveler who needs to be entertained, or is looking for a 4 star room. It is perfect for someone who wants to experience and appreciate the big island. I found everyone there helpful and friendly.. I loved it all.. It was a laid back relaxing week, would go again.. I might even go back and volunteer! read more

I attended a Lomi Lomi Massage retreat at Kalani and it was really an amazing place. In the middle of the jungle, across the road from the beach, birds singing in the morning, frogs chirping at night, wild pigs wander the property, it's a wonder. Remarkably beautiful location. The accomodations are sparse but clean. They have tons of activities each day. They start each of the 3 meals with the conch being blown to alert you that the meal is about to start and the food is varied and delicious. A wonderful experience, I can't wait to go back. read more

I absolutely LOVED Kalani! I was there attending a 4 day event. I stayed in the tree house ... nothing like falling asleep listening to the frogs and waking to watch the sky lighten and the bird noises replace the frogs. The food was incredible and plentiful, the grounds beautiful and well kept, the staff always friendly and accommodating. I loved it so much I am hoping to return as a volunteer. It is a magical place! read more

Great, peaceful and beautiful with very friendly staff. The only drawback is the weak coffee!!

My husband and I just spent a week at Kalani Ocean Resort. We took advantage of an offer through Living Social Escapes that gave us a week for half price, plus one free massage (needless to say we paid for the second one) and access to the pool and other facilities. We could have upgraded to full meals, but chose to pay a la carte depending on whether we wanted to be away exploring and eating elsewhere. We had a lovely time. The first thing that impressed me was that nobody pushed us to upgrade or spend more money and we certainly weren't treated as if we were paying any differently than anyone else. The staff are knowledgeable, very friendly and clearly have a strong connection to the place. Our room was spartan, comfortable and clean and much more spacious than I had expected. We usually ate our breakfast at Kalani as well as a few dinners - the buffet was plentiful, tasty and lots of variety. I have a lot of food allergies and appreciated that everything was clearly identified for ingredients. The setting is gorgeous - the songs of the frogs and the birds is beautiful, ever-present and uplifting. The Puna area of the Big Island is one of my favourites. Kalani is situated just off one of the most beautiful highways ever - #137 and the nearby beaches are gorgeous. Fantastic snorkelling at the Kapoho tidepools at the end of the Kapoho-Kai road. Pahoa is one of my favourite towns in Hawaii and it's about 15 minutes drive up the road. We rented a car and found that the Kalani resort was a terrific base from which to explore the east side of the island. My husband and I each enjoyed an excellent massage at the Spa - the massage therapists really know what they are doing. After a week at Kalani, I felt truly refreshed, relaxed and rested - what more can one ask. P.S. we had none of the negative experiences that others have written about - nor did I observe anything like it. I'm not negating the experiences that others had (it can't have been pleasant) - but nothing like that happened in our presence. Rather, what I observed was a lot of very mellow, happy people getting along and enjoying each other. P.P.S. the apartments are NOT soundproof and we could hear the footsteps and conversations of others in our building quite clearly. But the staff provide earplugs together with the towels - and they work fine! Or you can bring your own. read more

If you are expecting hotel-like accommodations and service you may be disappointed. But, Kalani is not the typical resort. Its charm lies in an authentic environment that is inclusive and spiritually/environmentally oriented. The beauty of this place is amazing and everyone is accepted with a warmth that I have not felt in most other places. It is a niche oriented place. If you are interested in alternative healing, meditation, yoga, healthy food, being active, you will really enjoy Kalani. It is not just a gay oriented resort like some of the other reviews state. I am a strait woman and they went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and welcomed. If you need some time away to reconnect to your spirit without distractions, this is a perfect place for you. They aren't trying to be a five star hotel. They are trying to create a loving and healing community. I think that they do this very well. read more

My daughter and I stayed one week and we both loved the experience. Great place-so lush and exquisitely landscaped with access to great pool, hot tubs and sauna,black sand beach, views, gift store for supplies or gifts; unbeatable price all inclusive which included large room with private bath and large lounge shared with 2 other rooms, all meals which are delicious (and if you were going on day trips-could request bag lunch or dinner be saved for you if getting back late), unlimited access to classes including every kind of yoga, hula, Hawaiian culture and you name it they had it, 2 hr long massages and a halfday trip which we used to be taken snorkeling at a little known spot that is mostly used by local and was amazing, and they didn't even charge us for a 2nd half day trip which was to see the lava buurning at night. We also rented a car so we toured the Hilo area and local farmers market. My dtr knew every local hotspot from her internet search so we had a lot of fun on outings. I recommend seeing Volcano National Park, dining in Hilo at the farmers market and local restaurants and visiting the lava tube and waterfalls. We will definately be going back to Kalani and Hawaii Big Island ASAP. read more

I had a truly wonderful, magical, healing and transformative experience during my 1 week at Kalani. I ended up really loving everything about the experience. The food was abundant and delicious with tons of options, mostly local foods & very fresh. I loved the communal dining style. My room was very clean and wonderful. It rained a little every day I was there but was also sunny every day. "The Point" - a spot across the street right at the ocean - is beautiful and so serene. There are tons of classes to choose from each day. I did a different yoga class each day and all the teachers were wonderful & wise. In particular I loved Amma, Maxwell, Jared, Will & Caroline. I also took a Huna Healing class with Stewart and would highly recommend it. He was thoughtful and informative and it was a great experience. Cute geckos everywhere. The pool & hot tubs are so relaxing. It's a very non judgmental kind of place. I have never felt so supported & loved by a community. read more

I recently attended a week-long training and stayed in one of Kalani's hales. We were picked up by a prompt shuttle driver who drove us by the most recent lava rock to form on the big island. He pulled right up to our hale, so we didn't have to navigate our luggage up the rocky paths and across grass. Our room was clean and comfortable for two people. The twin beds were surprisingly comfortable considering they were sheets of memory foam on top of flat wooden frames. The pillows, however, were fairly flattened, so bring your own! The biggest inconvenience of the room was the very slow draining tub - although we didn't complain about it to guest services. My suspicion is that they would have been happy to send someone to take a look at it. All of Kalani's volunteers were very friendly and accommodating. After the initial shock of excess flies, geckos, and cockroaches this city girl isn't used to, I relaxed into the jungle setting and had a good time. In general, Kalani's food is tasty, very healthy, and seemed to be locally sourced. Although several days of tofu or fish as the main dish options proved a challenge, and a bunch of us at the training went to the neighboring town of Pahoa for some thai food. The pool and two hot tubs were very lightly treated with chemicals, making taking a dip a very pleasant experience. The pool area is open 24 hours a day. I received a life-changing watsu massage from Maxwell in their private watsu pool. He was absolutely amazing and so professional and friendly - a beautiful spirit. All in all, the grounds are beautiful and well maintained. Be prepared for screened in rooms without windows, the occasional wild boar or mongoose sighting, loudly croaking frogs (that make a bird-like sound that is quite beautiful), and lots of little critters - especially beetles who flock to light. The homemade ice cream at the front desk is a delicious treat on your way out to The Point for ocean viewing. read more