Invitations
RAW & Rooted Retreat for Women
Friday, January 31st - Monday, February 3rd, 2025
Maximum 10 participants
Facilitated By:
Wild Women Hawai'i Founder Michelle Gallagher Escobar
Photographer Jamie Nease of the RAW Project
with Verna Loosli and
Assistant Nancy Campbell
Connect with your roots as a woman, heal from past wounds, honor the midlife transition, and sow new seeds of authentic friendship. Reconnect with your raw nature through a transformational photoshoot. Release trauma and stress through liberating movement and dance. Prepare for an unforgettable retreat that begins with finding your voice and ends with seeing yourself through new eyes. Deepen bonds with yourself and others as you become rooted in the serene beauty of Hawai'i on the majestic, volcanically active slopes of Kīlauea.
Wild Women Hawai'i
has teamed up with
RAW!
A photographic journey to radical self-love!
Each guest will experience the healing power of RAW portraiture. Shame is best healed in community, by being witnessed and held in love. Doing this work together in a group amplifies the healing for everyone.
What's Included:
Accommodations
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3 nights in cozy, serene accommodations.
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Arrive on Friday at 3 PM. Depart at 10 AM on Monday.
Core Activities
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Stress & Anxiety Release Practices: Explore nature therapy, breathwork, stretching, group talk therapy, guided meditation, dance release therapy, grounding rituals, and other techniques tailored to individual needs so you can discover what works for you.
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RAW Individual Photoshoot with 5 keepsake RAW portraits
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Somatic Movement Therapy and Dance Release: You will discover movement and dance's therapeutic and somatic benefits. Release pent-up stress and express yourself in ways words cannot.
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Group cacao ceremony & healing session with Jamie Nease from RAW
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Sacred Gatherings: Experience transformative ceremonies honoring women.
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Talking Circles: These circles foster rooted connection and solidarity as women share their stories, creating a community of upliftment and inspiration.
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Vegetarian Culinary Delights: Enjoy 8 fulfilling meals from locally-grown produce, lovingly prepared by our resident caterer.
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Evening Campfires: Gather under the stars to share stories, laughter, and warmth with other women.
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Exclusive Swag Bag: Includes a Wild Women Hawai'i t-shirt, tote, and eco-friendly water bottle.
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Sharing Bag: A curated collection of delightful gifts and promotions from guests.
Optional Daytime Invitations
Customize your retreat experience with a range of optional activities that resonate with your desires:
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Volcanic Hot Spring Baths: Rejuvenate in two geothermal mineral-rich onsen-inspired baths.
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“Honoring the Transition” Midlife Support Circle: Share experiences of menopause and beyond in a supportive group discussion.
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Steam Vent Trail: Explore the enchanting 1.2-mile Steam Vent Trail, where you can practice forest bathing in the tranquil native ʻōhiʻa forest and absorb the magical energy of the geothermal steam vents.
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"Tapping into the Past"Grief support circle with Verna: Navigate grief with guidance from a licensed therapist in a compassionate, supportive environment.
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Vintage Dance Party: Enjoy stress-free fun with vintage tunes and joyful movement.
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Refreshing Plunge Pool: Energize your body and mind with a cool dip.
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Lawn Activities: Rediscover childhood freedom with hula hoops, jump ropes, and outdoor games.
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Unstructured Free Time: Enjoy journaling, sketching, reading, or napping to rejuvenate and reflect.
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Pop-Up Activities: Participate in guest-led experiences like tarot readings or henna art.
Optional Add-ons
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On-Site Massage: Treat yourself to a personalized massage session (additional cost).
Embrace the Spirit of Sisterhood
This retreat is an invitation to connect, heal, and grow in a supportive community. With every shared meal, meaningful conversation, and joyful activity, you’ll deepen your bonds with yourself and others and leave with cherished memories. Reconnect with yourself and your newfound friends in the serene beauty of Hawai'i.
*The schedule is subject to change.
What's not included:
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flight and travel expenses
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transportation to/from the retreat (we are happy to assist with ride-sharing)
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travel insurance
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tax
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massage
This is a peaceful and free-flowing Winter retreat. Guests are invited to bring instruments, songs, and stories to share by the campfire.
Benefits you will receive from the retreat
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You will gain the courage to reclaim your voice, redefine your life, and shine your light.
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You will find solidarity with other women who share your journey.
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You will discover the therapeutic and somatic benefits of dance and movement.
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You will walk away with a deeper connection to yourself and a renewed sense of who you are.
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You will connect with your raw nature, sink into your roots, and see yourself in a new way.
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You will release stress and reduce anxiety.
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You will experience the healing benefits of being outdoors in the rhythms of nature.
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You will embrace being a woman and the transition to midlife with honor and dignity.
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Our peaceful environment and guidance are designed to help you unwind and find inner tranquility.
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You will settle into the freedom of loving yourself exactly as you are, right now.
Michelle Gallagher Escobar
Founder & Facilitator of Wild Women Hawai'i
Michelle's purpose for starting Wild Women Hawai’i was to fulfill women’s need for authentic sisterhood connection and a safe space to return to our roots as women. She will guide you through talking circles and ceremonies to experience a deep sense of belonging while empowering your voice from within.
With over forty years of experience in dance, she offers a unique perspective on overcoming pressures placed on women and how we view our bodies, especially as we age. Through dance and movement activities for every woman, Michelle will encourage you to celebrate your body as a vessel for artistic and somatic self-expression with the freedom to heal in ways words cannot express.
Jamie Nease
RAW
Jamie Nease is an ex-Google engineer turned transformational portrait photographer located on the Big Island of Hawai’i. She's on a mission to help women let go of the shame inflicted on them in their culture, so they can see their inherent beauty, let go of limiting beliefs, and step into their purpose. She couples her knowledge of photography with her extensive knowledge of healing through self image, and creates a space where women can let go of the mask and see their power, potential, and timeless beauty. Her RAW project was created from a deep desire for women to be fully expressed and in their power, so that they can step forward and heal the world.
This retreat is for you if:
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You seek an authentic, down-to-earth women's community.
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You thrive in nature.
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You are ready to tap into your past for healing.
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You are in, past, or approaching midlife.*
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You are ready to embrace a healthy lifestyle through nutritious, home-cooked vegetarian meals.
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You are ready to express your true self without fear of judgment.
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You have an open mind to celebrate the wild woman within.
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You are open to sharing with a multigenerational group of women.
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You are comfortable staying on an active volcano. Rest assured, there are no ongoing lava flows in the vicinity, and safety is our top priority. The steam has been tested by USGS many times and we have been assured of no harmful gasses.
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You've faced any form of grief, whether it stems from displacement, parenthood, any loss, or beyond. We understand that grief is a universal experience that touches us all. Together, we can navigate through the complexities of grief and find solace. *
* Note: Although we offer midlife and grief circles as optional daytime invitations, this retreat does not focus on grief or midlife alone. All women are welcome regardless of their journey.
Location
Located 23 miles from the Hilo Airport, Puna Rainforest Hot Spring Retreat is an approximately 35-minute drive without traffic.
This beautiful, private rural estate is Mauka (up the mountain) from the Big Island's Fissure 8 lava flows of 2018. This land and its surrounding forest reserve were protected. As a result, there are geothermal steam vents and natural hot springs on the lower portion of the property which are over 500 feet makai from the houses. We honor and respect this sacred land for its protective, healing energy and heartfelt history.
Puna Rainforest Hot Spring Retreat is a 20-acre private and luxurious estate that offers a secluded, gated, and serene getaway surrounded by lush rainforest and breathtaking ocean views. The grounds are surrounded by rainforest including a protected Ohia forest which serves as an endangered species habitat for the Endangered Hawaiian Owl, Hawk, and Bat who are often observed within the retreat space. The forest has giant ferns, diverse orchids, epiphytic plants, strawberry guava, moss, passion fruit, geckos, frogs, praying mantis, and songbirds for an invigorating multisensory experience.
Steam vents have been established on the lower property, over 500 feet from the houses, and temperatures have stabilized at 197 F. Steam varies from barely visible to over 100 ft tall when it rains. The steam has been tested by USGS many times. There are no harmful gasses present.
The main house and four cottages are beautifully appointed, providing a comfortable and peaceful living space that includes access to a plunge pool, volcanic hot spring tubs, and a private 1.2-mile nature trail.
Take a stroll on the steam vent trail, unwind in the volcanically heated hot tubs, take a refreshing dip in the plunge pool, or just enjoy the tranquil setting. Guests are invited to eat fruit from the orchard including lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, banana, soursop, guava, and avocado.
Accommodations
We offer two private cottages and three private bedrooms in two shared cabins. All remaining bedrooms are shared. Each room is unique just like this estate!
Natural cleaning products and non-toxic pest control are used on this property, and an advanced filtration system offers excellent drinking water from rain catchment.
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Massage Add-on
Massage is available as an optional add-on offered by the property's resident massage therapist, Sid, who has a studio on site. If you would like to add a 1-hour massage to your retreat, you may do so on the registration form. You will pay Sid $111 directly at your massage appointment. Only a few spaces are available on a first-come-first-served basis for retreat guests only. Highly recommended!
Wild Women Hawai'i retreats are safe havens from the daily stresses of life, offering a work-free, debate-free, network-free environment. We invite you to leave all societal pressures behind and focus on yourself for a full weekend of peaceful bliss.
As a compromise for those who would like to network, you can share what you do by contributing to a ‘sisterhood sharing bag’ given to each sister at the end of the retreat to open once they are home.
For more details, click the tote below...
Scholarship Closet
and Handmade Crafts Corner!
100% of the sales will go directly into our scholarship fund to help women financially struggling afford the summer retreat at Kalopa Park! Our networking policy applies.
Craft Corner
We will have a table set aside for your handmade crafts, potions, lotions, honey, books, jewelry, herbs, cards, prints, art, and all delights made by you. Sample-sized products are welcome!
Scholarship Closet
A fun way to contribute to the scholarship fund while sharing your clothes or adding a few nice things to your wardrobe.
Click the link below for more details on our Scholarship Closet!
Pop-Ups
‘Pop-up’ activities are complimentary side offerings that guests bring to share individually with other guests during a specified hour of the day. These are not classes or workshops. Some ideas include body painting, reiki, tarot readings, photoshoots, poi balls, pedicures, and henna. Indicate on the registration form if you have a pop-up to offer.
Our Networking Policy will apply.
Please read our terms before booking your retreat.