Invitations
Retreat for Women
Friday, May 9 - Monday, May 12, 2025
Facilitated By:
Wild Women Hawai'i Founder Michelle Gallagher Escobar
with Verna Loosli and
Assistant Nancy Campbell
'Invitations' Retreat is a restorative women's weekend retreat on the slopes of Kīlauea on the beautiful and lush Big Island. Explore the cathartic benefits of nature therapy, hot springs baths, somatic movement, guided meditation, group talk therapy, sharing circles, underwater breath release, campfire gatherings, resting time to yourself, and more. Disconnect from technology and reconnect with your roots as a woman without guilt, pressure, or shame. Surround yourself with much-needed women's support, liberate yourself from patriarchal narratives, and realize that you are not alone in your journey.
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 fulfilling meals from locally-grown produce, prepared by our resident caterer from women-owned HeartBeet Catering.
Activities
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Stress & Anxiety Release Practices: Explore nature therapy, group talk therapy, guided meditation, dance release, somatic movement, breath release, empowering women-centered ceremonies and activities, and more.
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Volcanic Hot Spring Baths: Rejuvenate in two geothermal mineral-rich onsen-inspired baths. Read more HERE.
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Midlife Support and Sharing Circle: Share experiences of midlife in a supportive group discussion, ending in a group Reiki Circle. This circle is appropriate for all women whether or not they have experienced menopause.
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Somatic Movement: Get out of your head and express yourself in ways words cannot.
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Dance Release: Enjoy stress-free fun with vintage tunes and joyful movement.
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Evening Campfires: Gather under the stars to share stories, laughter, songs, smores, and peaceful warmth.
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Sound Bath
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Optional* Grief Support Circle with licensed therapist Verna Loosli: Navigate grief with guidance in a compassionate, skilled, supportive environment.
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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 energy of the geothermal steam vents.
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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 optional hula hoops, jump rope, and more during your free time.
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Unstructured Free Time to rejuvenate, rest, and reflect, enjoy journaling, sketching, reading, meditating, or napping.
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Pop-Up Activities: Participate in optional guest-led experiences such as possible crafts, body painting, drumming, or henna art.
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Exclusive Eco-Friendly Swag Bag 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 intended for mothers only. Our activities are designed for all women, ages 35 and up, as a matriarchal sanctuary for support. See our itinerary for more details.
Benefits you will receive from this retreat
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Discover a deeper connection to yourself and your roots as a woman.
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Release stress and reduce anxiety.
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Hone in on your own needs with a retreat from technology.
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Experience the health benefits of being outdoors in the rhythms of nature.
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Unwind and find inner peace and tranquility.
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Liberate yourself from patriarchal narratives.
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Realize that you are not alone in your journey.
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Gain the courage to reclaim your voice.
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Revitalize and nurture your social, emotional, physical, and environmental wellness. Read more HERE.
This retreat is for you if:
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You need a weekend to take care of you without guilt, pressure, or shame.
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You are ready to disconnect from technology and reconnect with yourself.
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You crave a weekend of complete freedom to release all stress and invite peaceful strength and holistic wellness.
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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 are ready and willing to express your true self without fear of judgment.
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You have an open mind and consider yourself peaceful and kind.
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You are eager to welcome the wild woman within. The term "wild" is not used in a negative sense but rather an internal knowing as a woman connected with her natural, powerful, feminine self. And she is encouraged by other wild women as part of her circle.
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You are open to sharing heart space with a multigenerational group of women. Most of our guests are between the ages of thirty-five and sixty.
This retreat is NOT for you if:
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You want a party retreat. Wild Women Hawai'i has a strict policy against the use of alcohol and drugs. Our retreat is a peaceful place to dive deep and find inner tranquility.
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You need to stay connected to technology throughout the weekend. We are a technology-free retreat. Wifi is available (but spotty) for private check-ins at home and in case of emergency.
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You are not open to sharing your story with women. Wild Women Hawai'i believes in challenging the patriarchal narratives that have been placed on women. This is a safe space to regain our natural inherent connection.
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You want a generic getaway with sightseeing and exploration of the island. We will sink into this beautiful and grounding twenty acres of wonderland for the entire weekend without coming and going.
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You only want to be around women like you. Hawai'i is beautifully diverse with women from all over the world who choose Hawaii as their home. We honor and value an open heart and mind.
Michelle Gallagher Escobar
Founder & Facilitator
As a resident of Hilo for over thirty years, Michelle's purpose for Wild Women Hawai’i is to fulfill women’s need for authentic sisterhood connection and to return to our roots as women. She invites you to join her in somatic movement, optional scream releases, sharing, dance release, group reiki, meditation, and more as we experience the cathartic benefits of letting go of shame and showing our true selves in a safe space together.
Verna Loosli
Licensed therapist Verna Loosli will facilitate our specialized daytime talking circles, and her 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!
Optional Add-on
Flying Dress Photoshoot
A treasured gift for Mother's Day
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.
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.
HeartBeet Catering
Experience a culinary adventure from the island! Our resident caterer Ruth Ann from HeartBeet Catering will utilize fresh, local, delicious ingredients built around island foods from local farmers who run diversified agriculture ventures and small homesteads. By working with HeartBeet Catering, 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 they will happily work around any food 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!
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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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...
Massage Add-on
You will have the option to sign up for a 1-hour relaxation massage after booking. This offer is for a limited number of guests.
Accommodations and Booking can be found on Eventbrite through the button link below.
Please read our terms before booking your retreat.