Invitations
Retreat for Women
Friday, May 9 - Monday, May 12, 2025
Facilitated By
Michelle Gallagher Escobar
with Verna Loosli LCSW and
Assistant Nancy Campbell
Welcome to 'Invitations' Retreat on the stunning Big Island! Join us for a transformative experience filled with empowering women's rituals, anxiety-releasing methods and supportive sharing circles. Enjoy therapeutic outdoor hot springs, refreshing cool water plunges, liberating somatic movement, and precious time for yourself—all designed for a well-deserved Mother's Day indulgence. Disconnect from technology, reconnect with your roots, and embrace the support of nonjudgmental women as you reclaim your wild femininity!
Benefits you will receive from this retreat
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Discover a deeper, more peaceful connection to yourself and your roots as a woman.
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Learn new techniques to release stress and reduce anxiety in your everyday life.
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Be reminded of the therapeutic benefits of nature.
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Become part of a lifelong safety net of supportive women.
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Revitalize and nurture your social, emotional, physical, and environmental wellness. Read more about wellness HERE.
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Reclaim and redefine your wild femininity.
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We have blended just the right amount of women's support with restful self-care for finding your inner peace.
The needs of our guests will largely guide discussions, but some of the topics we’ll explore are:
* Ageism
* The Sister Wound (threat, jealousy, competition, previous experiences)
* Shame (lifestyle, appearance, self-care, voice)
* The metamorphosis of Menopause (physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually)
* “Mood Swings”
* The oppression of women in our patriarchal society
* The resurgence of Matriarchal reliance
* Motherhood
* Empty Nest
* Grief and facing our shadows
What's Included:
Accommodations
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3 nights in comfortable, serene accommodations.
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Arrive on Friday at 3 PM. Depart at 10 AM on Monday.
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Enjoy 8 healthful and abundant meals from locally grown produce, prepared by our resident caterer from women-owned HeartBeet Catering.
Activities
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Stress & Anxiety Release Methods: Explore somatic and meditative peaceful practices, nature therapy, empowering self-reflective rituals, and women-centered ceremonies for grounding comfort embraced in supportive energy.
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Volcanic Hot Spring Baths: Rejuvenate in two outdoor geothermal, mineral-rich, onsen-inspired baths. Read more HERE.
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Refreshing Plunge Pool: Perfect for hot flashes, and an invigorating contrast to the hot baths. Energize your body and mind with a cool dip and a cathartic group underwater breath release ritual.
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Midlife Support and Sharing Circle: Share experiences of midlife in an empowering group discussion, ending with a group Reiki Circle that will leave you feeling connected and accepted as you are.
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Welcoming Somatic Movement: An opportunity to release your shadows and pent-up frustrations in a safe space with no judgment. Get out of your head and express yourself in ways words cannot.
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Liberating Dance Release: As a welcome balance to the restful pace of this retreat, enjoy stress-free fun and let it all go with vintage tunes and joyful movement where it doesn't matter how well you dance or what you look like.
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Evening Campfires: Gather under the stars to share songs, rituals, 'smores, and peaceful warmth.
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Peaceful Sound Bath to invite in complete tranquility on the Day of the Mother.
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Optional* Grief Support Circle with licensed therapist Verna Loosli LCSW: Navigate grief with guidance in a compassionate, skilled, supportive environment. Verna is calm, kind, and easy to talk with.
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Steam Vent Trail: Explore the enchanting 1.2-mile Steam Vent Trail, where you can practice forest bathing and wander like the faeries in a tranquil native ʻōhiʻa forest while absorbing the healing energy of the geothermal steam vents along the way.
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Lawn Activities: As an option during your free time, rediscover childhood joy and release pent up energy with hula hoops and jump rope.
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Unstructured and Undisturbed Free Time to rejuvenate, rest, reflect, enjoy journaling, sketching, reading, meditating, napping, playing, and more.
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Exclusive Eco-Friendly Tote Bag and Shirt from Wild Women Hawai'i.
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Sharing Bag: A curated collection of delightful gifts and promotions from guests.
Included Add-on (no additional cost)
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Transportation: Shuttle between Hilo Airport and the retreat.
Optional Add-on (additional cost - limited space available)
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Flying Dress Photoshoot with 4 professionally edited images
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1-Hour Relaxation Massage
What's not included:
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flight and travel expenses
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travel insurance
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tax
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optional massage
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optional Flying Dress Photoshoot
Note: Although this retreat falls on Mother's Day weekend, it is not for mothers only. Our activities are designed for all women, ages 30 and up, as a matriarchal wonderland of support. See our itinerary for more details.
This retreat is for you if:
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You need a weekend for yourself without guilt, pressure, or shame.
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You want to learn new ways to relieve stress and empower yourself.
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You crave complete freedom to release all anxiety.
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You love being outdoors in the warm embrace of the Big Island.
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You seek an authentic, down-to-earth women's community where you will be seen, heard, and believed.
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You yearn to express your true self without fear of judgment.
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You are ready to reclaim and redefine your wild femininity!
This retreat is NOT for you if:
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You want a party retreat.
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You need to stay connected to technology throughout the weekend.
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You are not open to sharing yourself with other women. This is a safe space to regain your natural inherent connection.
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You want a generic getaway with sightseeing and exploration of the island. We will sink into this grounding twenty acres of wonderland for the entire weekend without coming and going.
Michelle Gallagher Escobar
Michelle is the founder and head facilitator of Wild Women Hawai’i LLC. As a long-time resident of Hilo, Michelle's purpose for Wild Women Hawai’i is to fulfill women’s need for authentic sisterhood connection and to return to our peaceful and powerful roots as women.
Verna Loosli LCSW
Licensed therapist Verna Loosli will facilitate our specialized daytime talking circles, and her calm presence will help you through any moments you may need someone to talk to.
Nancy Campbell
Facilitator's Assistant -
Nancy’s love for organization, sharing, and collaborating with others creatively will help Michelle make this the best retreat yet!
Location
Located 23 miles from the Hilo Airport, Puna Rainforest Hot Spring Retreat is an approximately 35-minute drive without traffic.
We love this location's privacy, safety, spaciousness, and unique volcanic amenities! We will have the entire estate to ourselves, allowing us to let go and be free on twenty acres of natural wonder and pampering comfort all rolled into one!
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, geothermal steam vents and natural hot springs are on the lower portion of the property. 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.
Catering by HeartBeet
Experience a culinary adventure from the island! Our caterer will utilize fresh, local, delicious ingredients built around island foods from local farmers who run diversified agriculture ventures and small homesteads. We support Hawai’i in building our independence and breaking free from our reliance on the global food system. The menus are naturally gluten-free without compromising great flavors and textures, and we will work around any food allergies and sensitivities.
Accommodations
We offer two private cottages and three private bedrooms in two shared cabins. All remaining bedrooms are shared. Each room is special and unique just like our location! Details for each are below. Prices can be found on the "Book Here" button.
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.
Room Options
Shared Bedroom with Twin Bed
Private Cottage
(two options)
Private Master Bedroom in Shared Two-Room Cabin
(two options)
Semi-Private Room with Twin Trundle Bed (1 option)
Flying Dress Photoshoot
Available as an add-on for retreat guests.
A magical and empowering memento and
a treasured gift for Mother’s Day!
Massage Add-on
You will have the option to sign up for a 1-hour relaxation massage at booking. This offer is for a limited number of guests.
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 HERE.
For rooms and pricing, click the image below to visit our booking system on Eventbrite.
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