Rashani has hosted land stewards, WWOOFers, sevadars and helpxers and on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi since 1992. (Prior to coming to Hawai`i, between 1973 until 1991, she hosted many skilled sevadars at her home in southern France, where she raised her son and renovated an ancient stone farmhouse, tower and barn.)

(Kipukamaluhia is not a typical “WWOOF farm” so at this time we are not associated with the WWOOF organization.)

Those who have brought their skills, visions & wisdom to her previous home, "Earthsong," and to Kipukamaluhia, her current home, have come from Japan, Malaysia, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Australia, India, Slovania, South Africa, Guatemala, Israel, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Austria, South Africa, Brazil, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Puerto Rico, Canada and the United States.

We respect (and encourages) reciprocity and mutual accountability.

Rashani begins in the gardens shortly after dawn and will stay until ten or eleven o’clock. She prefers observing silence while doing seva but it is never an imposed silence. If people need to ask questions about tools or the projects being done, that is fine. It’s simply a time to focus our attention and connect with the land and is not a time for “chit chat”.

The land steward apprenticeship program offer an opportunity to connect more deeply with one's self and with the ʻaina (spirit of the land) while gifting Kipukamaluhia with your skills, love and presence. The minimum stay is one month and if there is a mutually-beneficial exchange, we are open to having people stay longer. You are invited to practice present moment awareness when spending quiet time alone and while engaging with others or with ongoing projects. Resting as awareness, even while in the midst of weeding gardens, caring for animals or mending broken fences, benefits any spiritual practice and allows personal problems to dissolve effortlessly. One also discovers that the illusion of separation dissolves quite naturally.

At Kipukamaluhia we enter the present moment directly, as unencumbered as possible, while fully engaging in whatever daily tasks need to be done. We recognize that we are already complete and whole, regardless of inner and outer circumstances. The spirit of the land reminds us of this again & again and we are invited to savor each moment in its unique suchness.

This is a living laboratory, a learning and unlearning center, where people come to be with themselves, each other, and with the animals, trees, and plants and overlapping eco systems.

*Seva refers to "selfless service,” performed without any thought of reward or personal benefit. In the Punjabi language the person performing such service is called a Sevadar.

There is always a one week trial period, to see if it is a mutually beneficial exchange. If what we are offering is not what you feel nourished by, you can find different accommodations.

Some people prefer offering less hours and paying a minimal rent. If you are unable to complete projects, you can pay for lodging, like all other guests. Rashani is always open to finding mutually-beneficial exchanges with those who are drawn to be on this particular land.

During our time in the gardens, we share our gifts and skills—and/or discover new skills—free from the hierarchical and authoritative labels such as "student" or "teacher."

What is it like to relate with the earth as the earth, instead of re-lating to the earth? What is it like to experience yourself as part of the environment instead of as an "environmentalist?"

Where do we begin and end as living, breathing beings? The trees and all creatures are breathing with us.

PLEASE NOTE: you are required to bring portable solar chargers for laptops and cell phones! Mahalo...

The Miracle is not to walk on water.
The miracle is to walk
on the green earth
in the present moment,
to appreciate peace and beauty
that are available now....
it is not a matter of faith,
it is a matter of practice.
We need only to find ways
to bring our body and mind
back to the present moment
so we can touch
that which is refreshing, healing
and wondrous.

–Thich Nhat Hanh

We welcome the cultivation of action & stillness and value doing & non-doing. The twenty-two hours per week, however, are specifically devoted to focused attention in the gardens. Some people prefer solitary projects while others prefer group participation.

Being at Kipukamaluhia is an open invitation to experience the inseparability of the living dharma & everyday life and to discover non dual & ecological awareness. The time spent helping with the needs of the land is considered our daily "sevā."

Sevā (also transcribed as sewa), in Hinduism and Sikhism, is the concept of selfless service that is performed without any expectation of result or award for performing it. Such services can be performed to benefit other human beings or society. Seva means "service". A more recent interpretation of the word is "dedication to others".

Once a week we meet in council, which is a way of speaking & listening from the heart. Council is a non-hierarchical form of communicating; a wonderful opportunity for discovering more about one another and a time to share one's insights & discoveries, dreams, edges, suggestions and whatever else is arising.

No pets, artificial fragrances, alcohol, cigarettes or drugs.

Please use only fragrance-free products on the land. Bring ONLY organic laundry soap, shampoo, hair rinse, deodorant, and body soap. No paraffin candles or kerosene! And please do not arrive with clothes that have been washed in strong-smelling detergents.

THANK YOU.

Requirements:

• Physical, mental and emotional stability.

• No smoking (nicotine or anything else) and no alcohol.

• Financial resources for personal needs such as food, clothing, medical care, transportation, etc.

• A commitment to investigating stressful thoughts and stories.

• A willingness to consider that authenticity and honest, conscious communication are more important than being right.*

• The capacity to differentiate between reality and the stories which obscure it.

• A willingness to own one's projections and communicate simply, directly, and honestly.

• The ability and willingness to commit to a daily schedule.

• The ability to follow instructions and a flexible attitude with daily projects in particular and with life in general.

• Being comfortable with sharing a communal kitchen, outdoor shower and composting toilet with others.

• Skills in gardening or building and/or housekeeping and/or land maintenance.

• An interest in nonviolent communication and pure listening, and cultivating a non-reactive, “zero state” when communicating.

• A genuine desire to live simply and become more aware of our relationship to the elements and all sentient beings, and how our actions affect others.

• Being accountable for one’s actions.

• No adherance to any religious (or other) dogmas. In other words: an open mind.

• A genuine love of the land and an understanding of “The Great Turning” which we are currently in the midst of on this beloved planet.

AGAIN: we ask that NO artificial fragrances are used here, whether in shampoos, hair rinses, perfumes, deodorants, dish soaps or laundry detergents. Many people who visit are chemically sensitive AND we want to respect the land by not using chemicals!

The Basics

Land steward apprentices and Sevadars offer twenty-two focused hours per week in exchange for lodging and have access to a beautiful, hand-carved open temple, a meditation room, a tree house for gazing at sunsets, a yoga/dance deck, which overlooks the ocean, and exquisite forests for experiencing shinrin yoku (forest bathing.)

You will share an outdoor shower—with hot and cold water—a composting toilet and an open community kitchen, which is supplied with a propane stove and high quality pots & pans and plenty of plates, bowls and cutlery.

You will buy your own food & prepare your meals. Some people prefer eating together and others prefer eating alone.

Everyone is welcome to the medicinal herbs and fruits which are grown here, except for particular fruits that are being sold to the whole food store in Kona from time to time. (In exchange for taking fruit and medicinal herbs from the land, we ask that you please pick up any rotten fruits that have dropped from the trees. It will help keep fruit flies away!)

Those who want to enjoy organic vegetables from the land can offer half an hour per week helping weed the vegetable gardens.

Since most of our time has been spent simply creating the infra-structure here, we are just now beginning to clear areas for more vegetable gardens...

You have the option to arrive by bus, at South Point Road or to pay to be picked up in Hilo or Kona. The buses are free and there are local people who do pickups in Hilo and Kona for $80, for those who want to do shopping before they come to the land. Both Hilo and Kona have wonderful health food stores. (Please see the Hele-on Bus schedule for arrival times.) DO NOT ARRIVE AFTER DARK.

We suggest that you purchase travel insurance when you book your ticket. It's not expensive and it covers any medical emergencies that may arise while you're here on the island.

There is a laundromat and two supermarkets in Ocean View and a weekly farmer's market in Naʻalehu. (They have SOME organic items but/and if you are wanting to stock up on organic grains, seeds, nuts, oils, laundry soap, etc, it's best to do so in Hilo or Kona—or place orders at www.vitacost.com.)

We do not provide phones, computers, laundry service, bicycles, hand soaps, or laundry soap. There is a large sink where people can wash clothes by hand and we hope to build a bicycle-powered washing machine some day! (Anyone with experience in creating one would be warmly welcomed...) We provide bio-degradable dish soap, toilet paper, sponges and bags for garbage.

High speed internet access is no longer available here. There are two internet cafés in Na`alehu and one in Ocean View, where wifi is available... Due to the concerns of many guests and retreatants, wifi is not an option here on the land.

AGAIN: we are asking you to bring SOLAR rechargers for your phones and any other appliances!

Everyone here is asked to consider their relationship to electricity usage— and limit it to what is necessary. This is an integral aspect of life here at Kipukamaluhia~

MAHALO...

(Please do not bring electrical devices that use lots of energy.)

You will be taken into Na`alehu or Ocean View once a week, to do laundry and for food shopping. 

Poetry is one of the ancient arts, and it began as did all the fine arts, within the original wilderness of the earth.

–Mary Oliver

Please Bring

A good headlamp or crank lantern, a solar charger (if you’re bringing a cell phone or laptop), a watch for keeping track of your hours, a set of queen size sheets, a pillow & pillow case and a sleeping bag—or a warm blanket—gardening clothes & gloves, a towel (or two), a hat, sturdy shoes as well as sandals or flip flops, harmless sunscreen & non toxic mosquito repellent, warm clothes for cool evenings and mornings, (long-sleeve shirts and long pants to avoid mosquitos), a rain coat, a refillable water bottle, clothes for warm weather and snorkeling gear if you intend to snorkel.

AND PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE WEARING CLOTHING THAT HAS BEEN WASHED IN NON-ORGANIC, SCENTED LAUNDRY DETERGENT.

A recent sevadar suggested reading my book, “Beyond Brokenness,” before coming to the sanctuary. She said that it allowed her to understand more deeply what I am offering here.

If you want to experience shinrin yoku (forest bathing) bring a light weight hammock! https://www.rashani.com/about/shinrin-yoku

(Some people rent cars and bicycles and others hitch-hike with one another on their days off or in the afternoons, when their hours are complete...)

AGAIN: No pets, artificial fragrances, alcohol, cigarettes or drugs. 

Please use only fragrance-free products on the land. Bring ONLY organic laundry soap, shampoo, hair rinse, mosquito repellant, deodorant, and body soap. No paraffin candles or kerosene!

Our one policy is very simple: if you lose or break something, please fix or replace it!

Testimonials

I can't imagine a better first WWOOFing experience. The land, people, and animals are all so special and enfold you in a community that fosters so much unbelievable love and growth. The seva and off grid lifestyle may be an adjustment for someone who does not want to make compromises to the way of living they are used to—but if you immerse yourself in the presentness and mindfulness required for this experience, so much beauty and life and self discovery will emerge. Kipukamaluhia gave me an opportunity for reflection and authenticity that isn't possible in the world of the mainland, where so many things are easily taken for granted. So my exchange with this sanctuary never ended in my eyes, because the teachings of this land and the understanding of myself have continued to influence my day to day life months later. If you are ready to take a plunge into a deeply immediate reality and take pause for inquiry, Kipukamaluhia may be the perfect container for you, as it was for me.

–Katherine Twomey, Ashland, Massachusetts

As I round into this Gregorian new year, my mind returns to my winter two years ago spent at Kipukamaluhia.

I look back now and have so much gratitude for the generosity Rashani offered us and so many others to come and meditate on the land. A couple of weeks ago I was able to do a three day shamata retreat with a teacher of mine here in NYC. During that retreat I realized many of the seeds of my current practice were planted during my time spent in Hawai`i. Thank you for encouraging us to be quiet as we tended to the land and for being patient with Aminah and me as we took our time understanding that lesson. Thank you for witnessing me and holding space in a critical point of my life. Thank you for introducing me to the dharma. After I left Hawaii, I ended my engagement and left the nine year relationship I was in. I feel as though my life started over again from that point… and my time on the land helped me build the faith that I needed to start over.

–Rochelle wilbun, nyc, ny

Being at Kipukamaluhia was truly a blessing. My partner and I arrived in a way that felt orchestrated by the universe itself. Rashani welcomed us whole-heartedly, and we were quickly circled in to the community of land, people, and animals. At Kipukamaluhia, atten-tion was called to the fact that every act can be sacred; from framing in a stained glass window into a new building, to tearing the roof off an old temple, from sharing dinner with community members in the outdoor kitchen, to walking alone at night beneath the swaying palms. The energy present was the energy of healing—whether in one-on-one sessions with Rashani, bringing clarity to areas in need of light, or in council with other community members, sharing about ourselves in a space of wellness and vulnerability. Rashani protects and nurtures this field of healing energy, and she is deeply committed to stewarding the land. Living at Kipukamaluhia, I had the chance to step away from the cycles of modern society, to challenge and strengthen myself in ways I often overlook. With the support of Rashani and fellow community members, life was a magical experience, where growth came in unexpected ways, and happenings unfolded beautifully unplanned.

–Andrew Terrell, Bellingham, Washington

For Rashani:

I have never met someone like you… You pick ax through fields of cane grass and minds filled with stories. You introduce nonduality as if it is an old friend of yours coming to visit. You welcome any and all with a heart cracked open from wisdom and experience. You carry lava rocks with a strength and gentleness that mirrors you cradling souls to refuge. You sing with love and light that can be heard as a backtrack to your speaking. You wake up early in the beautiful morning haze to help wake others up earlier. You make your creativity take root much like the tenacious aloe plants creating their own paths. You saw dead branches off of trees and help people remove things they are no longer needing. You know your worth so confidently that it’s contagious to everyone around you. You were gifted with life and in return you gifted life.  Never have I met someone as extraordinary as you.

–Marley Anderson, kauai, Hawai`i

Kipukamaluhia was most likely the most valuable experience I've encountered in my 35 years on this earth. Rashani, and the beautiful energy that overflows at the sanctuary is humbling, majestic, and transformational in every way. Spending time at Kipukamaluhia is by no means easy. If you are looking for a comfortable WWOOF experience, you need not apply. However, for those looking for a complete makeover of the soul, the wisdom of true self reflection and radical self accountability, if you are looking to change your life...search no more. I take Rashani's teachings with me through every breath I take. Although I still fall, I get back up to the sound of her voice, and the knowledge of how to put the broken pieces together while identifying how I broke them in the first place.

-Nicky Russo, NYC, New York

I feel like the land has been gestating me and now I’m about to be propelled down the birth canal and out into the world. The feeling is one of ripeness, of anticipation. I leave here with an overwhelmingly positive regard for this Sanctuary and everyone I enjoyed my time here with.

During the last three months my life has had different phases, periods of days and weeks that each seemed to carry their own unique feeling tone. These phases often corresponded with the arrivals and departures of others. There was one particularly joyful stretch when it seemed I scarcely saw anyone for a couple weeks. A very simple and quiet rhythm emerged in my daily life. An effortless settling where nothing was missing or felt out of place.

Naturally this seclusion couldn’t last and people started appearing—Bonnie, then Amber and Coley, later Golnar and Talia — and the occasional oddballs like that eccentric German artist who wanted to transplant his entire garden here. What I noticed is that I felt resistance with each new arrival. How dare they intrude on my solitude!

But thank goodness for the solitude intruders! For having people teach me there’s no need to be miserly with time or attention.

All the time I’ve spent with you, Rashani… all the rich, far-flung conversational tapestries we’ve embroidered together have helped me rediscover an inner abundance that yearns to be shared . How sweetly ironic… to notice that I greeted each person’s arrival with suspicion and resistance only to later realize as they left, one by one, that I had secretly been developing bonds of affection—almost in spite of myself.

It may take me many weeks or months to fully integrate my experiences here at Kipukamaluhia. I may look back and wonder whether this place was just a mirage on the margins of the desert of civilization.

And maybe I’ll have to return here just to make sure that it wasn’t.

–Thew Boris, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Kipukamaluhia has shown me a new and profound meaning to the phrase ‘living close to the land’. With Rashani’s masterful guidance I’ve learned that “as within, so without” is also interchangeable with “as without, so within.” The realization of our interdependence with Nature (and with all that IS) that I have found living on this land and through Rashani has profoundly changed the course of my life. You may think that you’re “just” weeding, pick-axing, gardening, etc. In Truth, you’re tending to your own innermost garden. There’s a similar opportunity for transformation to all who are graced with the privilege of helping to care for this sacred and special land. I have been held by Kipukamaluhia in ways that were before unimaginable. The medicine available here is truly priceless.

–Keri Receiver, Kona, Hawai`i

My time at Kipukamaluhia Sanctuary is a golden thread woven into a deep part of my soul. The sacred solace I received from the `Aina and the gracious space that Rashani holds both at that the sanctuary and in her heart have changed me, and I am a better man. Dancing in the garden through the labors of love that each day presented were imbued with simple and profound moments. "In the feast of the moment," as Aunty Rashani would often say, I found myself satiated in ways that aligned so serendipitously with my intention for my pilgrimage to the Big Island.

Gratitude fills a weary heart, and my cup runneth over.

Mahalo

–Salvatore Badami, Lombard, Illinois

Being a sevadar at Kipukamaluhia is a gift from Spirit. Being on this land, held, as a drop of water is held in the vast expanse of the ocean, seen in rawness, nakedness, newness, truth. Doing seva at this beautiful, lovingly-tended sanctuary is not "work trade;" it is a love offering given willingly and gratefully. Being at Kipukamaluhia is a soaking up of dharma, the kind that emanates from every leaf, flower, and carefully placed rock. The fragrance of blossoms is sent in all directions by the winds of South Point; allowing the old to compost, stories & burdens fall away into fertile earth and new energies are born as fruit trees, as wind-song, as eyes, awake and alert, see new beauty in the new day.

Being at Kipukamaluhia with Rashani is facing fears, embracing them as allies and transmuting them into exactly the medicine needed. It is resting in the knowingness that there is no right or wrong, or other... there is only is-ness, ever co-arising, co-birthing, co-loving... Being a sevadar at Kipukamaluhia is a walk in grace, in the beauty way, ever changing, ever the same. Being at Kipukamaluhia with Rashani is fierce-love, is tender love, is the gift-economy, is the mirror reflecting the love of truth. Being at Kipukamaluhia with Rashani is resting on the earth mother, identifying our aboriginal natures, effortlessly, just being here, just being held, just being seen, just being shown.”

–Aim Nemec, Puna, Hawai`i

I can not say enough positive things about Kipukamaluhia and Rashani. Rashani has dedicated her life to serving others, and you feel the essence of Pele's beauty as soon as you step onto the land. I feel as though she is my spiritual grandmother, and I am so grateful for the time we shared together, This place is truly magical. From the fruit trees, to the medicinal herbs and flowers, Rashani has created an amazing environment for WWOOFers and Sevadars to become the best version of themselves.

You should not come here if you are not committed to spiritual growth and giving all you have to the land. I assure you that you will not be able to hide from your challenges while performing Seva; however, if you are seeking to grow and fully immerse in what Rashani has to offer, then I promise it will be a life-changing experience.

Aloha,
Griffen

–Griffen Saul, Chicago, Illinois

There are no words to really sum up the experience I had at Kipukamaluhia with Rashani. She is one of the most selfless, loving and hard working women I’ve ever met. She walks the walk through and through. She welcomes one to dive deeper into themselves and tend to sacred land while doing so. Connecting with land and having my hands in the dirt at Kipukamaluhia was healing beyond measure. For anyone interested in staying with Rashani, come with no expectations, and be ready to open yourself up in the most honest and loving way. She has created a space for people to fall deeply in love with themselves and tap into your true essence. If you’re willing to dive deep that is. I will forever be thankful for the short amount of time spent with her and the land. Plus, the animal friends on the land are the most loving and beautiful animal friends anyone could ask for.

–Carlo Prado, Kaneohe, Hawai`i

My third time within ten years as a sevadar at Kipukamaluhia Sanctuary with Rashani:

Though it appears as weeding, clipping, hauling, digging, lifting, pulling, carrying…at the same time, in a parallel reality, it is a clearing of my mind.

For me, the weeding has also had an effect on my mental habits: I find myself digging out old beliefs & assumptions, whose roots had grown into the depths of my etheric soil; all the mental debris that stopped me from being in the present moment. I can hear Rashani quietly saying, "Unprocessed pain becomes revenge," so it is with delight that I bring my pain to light, since vengefulness is exhausting and harmful to the body/mind/spirit.

How deeply rooted some of these weeds: hiding the boundary of the rock wall. So, too, my unexamined, stressful beliefs had wound themselves around my core vitality, choking off my imagination, self respect & love. Such weeds make excellent compost and require diligent pulling! The seva time with Rashani is invaluable, creating sacred time for self-reflective inquiry.

Offering daily seva in this paradise garden becomes a Mobius strip in which inside becomes outside becomes inside. The gem of the day comes during intervals of rest, when picking & enjoying the ripe papayas, surinam cherries, tangerines, grapefruits and mulberries! Such a sweet treat: local organic just picked yums!!

Aside from tending the gardens, the timed writing exercises after the gardening, the personal writing, suggested reading from Rashani's extensive & wonderful library, spending time on my book...I feel life to be so rich here in the elegant simplicity, beauty and what Rashani refers to as "transparent intimacy as a way of life."

There is an open, relaxed Hawaiian life style, minus traffic, smog, visual & auditory pollution, no overhead planes or electrical wires or EMF debris. My ears are healed from the overwhelming city noise from which I came. Here I refuel my spirit, with what is visible and not so visible.

–Sunshine Appleby, Auckland, Aotearoa

After staying merely one week at Kipukamaluhia, I acquired tools that can last me my lifetime. Rashani has created a hidden gem of sacred space that pushed my limits, and supported my process. Faced with my humanity, and with the power of intention, I was able to give and receive more than I knew I could at that time. The sanctuary is unlike any other WOOFING experience; not only by the magnitude of the possibilities and space, but by directing more focus on healing through cultivating and beautifying the land. I did not fully understand or anticipate that at the time, but I do now, and I am surely glad that it is so. I left feeling more focused, grounded, and blessed than I ever had before. Thank you to Rashani, and to all those who came before me to let it be.

–Lauren Annette, Los Angeles, California

In February-March of 2011, I was privileged to spend about 6 weeks at Kipukamaluhia, having made a connection with Rashani through the WWOOF (Worldwide Workers on Organic Farms) program. I was immediately drawn to Rashani (I was already an admirer of her collage art) and to Kipukamaluhia, as an opportunity to practice mindfulness, tend this sacred land and learn all that the experience had to offer.

It was all wonderful ~ the land, the Kaʻu area and the town of Naʻalehu, and all the people I met along the way. I treasure my time there. Rashani was a considerate host who was available to answer questions, provide direction when needed, provide transportation to town on market days – and much, much more. She was always mindful and considerate of the needs of those she came in contact with. 

We enjoyed occasional community gatherings – potlucks, movie nights and music – with other volunteers and visitors. I learned to tend and befriend the goats and did a lot of weeding and land clearing and other gardening activities. I appreciated the mindfulness focus, as opposed to that of “production farming." 

I experienced Rashani as a super-responsible and dedicated steward of Kipukamaluhia, who is sure to provide all the support one would need to live and work there in a very rewarding way. I recommend this experience to anyone who feels drawn to it.

–Phyllis Linn, Eugene, Oregon

Being a wwoofer or sevadar at Kipukamaluhia is much more than just tending gardens, planting and harvesting food! "What is the point growing and eating organic food if one's mind is poisoned by stressful thoughts and untrue stories?" I had not realized this before. The beauty and silence of this sanctuary offer a unique opportunity for all who find their way there. Upon arrival, Rashani lovingly welcomes you to the land and hands you a small pamphlet. On the inside, there is a page of practical logistics and on the opposite side it says,

Being here is an open invitation:

• To discern the difference between beliefs and reality.

• To cultivate empathy & compassion for yourself and others.

• To live simply and mindfully with the `aina (spirit of the land.)

• To compost, mulch, and harvest the inner and outer gardens.

• To remember and be shaped by the rhythms and cycles of nature.

• To connect more intimately with yourself and the land.

• To discover who and what you are without labels.

• To know that every day can be heaven/nirvana or hell/samsara, depending on your thoughts.

• To notice what occurs when you drop assumptions and expectations.

• To feel the aliveness in reclaiming projections and befriending pain.

• To openly express your needs, knowing that they may not be met.

• To realize what you are beneath habits, masks and false identities.

• To experience doing, not doing, and non-doing.

• To see how spontaneous action emerges from stillness.

• To know that the only “teacher” here is your own awareness.

• To experience living off the grid.

• To discover the beauty of sadhana. (see definition below)

  
  
  
  
  

So much magic here! Thanks, Rashani, for creating a real place of peace, consciousness and sustainability.

–Alex fahad, Bellingham, washington

I knew immediately that I was in the presence of someone who had balanced practicality with spirituality and for whom there was no difference! Day after day I witnessed Rashani patiently & skillfully deconstructing peoples' deficiency stories while she stayed equally focused on pulling weeds or emptying the compost. What I saw, to my amazement, was that she really did not have judgments about others and that the only "judge" was my own critic, who showed up in a variety of disguises; the many internalized oppressors I had accumulated during my lifetime.

I noticed that those who understood what was being offered at Kipukamaluhia genuinely flourished. They unburdened themselves from years (and often decades!) of pain and came to realize that suffering is definitely an option. I also saw that those who were unable to see beyond their projections and expectations stayed as stuck as when they had arrived. Kipukamaluhia is a healing dojo/zendo/refuge of the highest quality, where people are invited to share in the sacrament of awareness while experiencing what Rashani refers to as "interbeing."

Rashani is amazingly generous, sharing her extensive library as well as her time. She blesses all who come with consistent authenticity and compassionate directness. Like the land, she is a mirror in which one has the ongoing opportunity to see neglected parts of themselves clearly. Those who are able to accept what they see gracefully awaken.

My months at Kipukamaluhia were some of the most important days of my life. I remain forever grateful for the opportunity to unlearn so many things and directly experience what I had previously believed was outside of myself, while nourishing the gardens & orchards with Rashani and several other sevadars.

I highly recommend doing sessions with Rashani also. During my stay I met several people who came from other islands and countries to attend her retreats & intensives and to do private sessions. There is an effortless quality in the way she interacts with people and it is quite rare.

–Shanti Pfendler, Zürich, Switzerland

In the spring of 2011, I spent five weeks at Kipukamaluhia, and my experience has affected every day since. More than anything, what Rashani has helped create and harbor is an open, sacred space. My time there, above all else, was deeply introspective. There is nobody there to preach at you or tell you how you should be. Rashani maintains a few rules in order to keep the space as open and beautiful as it is, but outside of those you can truly be yourself. If you want someone to talk to or a book to read, or help with anything, it will inevitably come to you in the perfect moment. What Kipukamaluhia can provide, if you are open and willing, is the awareness to notice those perfect moments as they unfold.

The word 'work' is not generally used here, because once you are on the property, it is hard not to simply feel great about contributing to the continual beautification of the space. I would recommend Kipukamaluhia to anyone who is willing to enter a powerful, magical place, and do so without any expectations at all.

–Noahegh Chute, Strafford, Vermont

I called Kipukamaluhia my home for about 3 months. I consider living at Kipukamaluhia to be one of the most rewarding and delicious times of my life so far.

Spending time with the animals, the plants, the trees, the gardens, the native foliage, the rocks and lava, the structures, the trade winds, the stars at night there, I am convinced that Kipukamaluhia is truly located in one of the most magical places on this planet.

There is no lack of wonder to this landscape, not only because of its Hawaiian overlay, but because of how Kipukamaluhia is built, with great intention, awareness, prayer and gratitude. I considered seva there to be "easy," even though oftentimes requiring good clean sweat, because the fruits of it are so rewarding, the dynamic nature of the daily sadhana so instantly palpable, even in the simple act of weeding a walkway.

During my stay there, Rashani was called to Ecuador for an event and the land was left in the hands of myself and another fortunate WWOOFER.  It was during that time where I found myself walking the entire land with great care to make sure all the tending and care that Rashani puts in on a daily basis did not wilt for lack of attention.  There are so many sacred plants and magical nooks there; taking the time to visit them and become familiar with their existence was a dharma of pure enjoyment, regardless of the service. Singing and chanting mantras while watering these numerous spots was one of my favorite tasks.

The quietude and peace of the land are supreme and will woo you deeper into love with yourself among all the other things there are to love about it.  I would behoove anyone who wants to go there and care take the land that you do so with the utmost understanding that the land is alive and watches and listens and expects the same from you.

Kipukamaluhia is a place for people who seek a quiet refuge and are willing to cultivate Presence and tend the land with an intention of purity.  The land there can feel you and has a way of calling you out if you are not in alignment with it.

–Kayt Pearl, Sedona, Arizona

*Sadhana is a committed prayer, a form of spiritual practice. It is something which you want to do and which is mindfully being done through you. It is not done to please somebody or to gain love and approval. Sadhana is a form of love made manifest, a personal process in which you bring out your best."

The purpose of sadhana is to help us recognize, understand and experience the unbroken wholeness of mind and phenomena, and then to live the implications of being this all-inclusive, utterly dynamic weaving of timeless mystery.

–Tarchin Hearn