Because Hawaii is so careful about screening for COVID with mandatory testing or vaccines, and because all group activities (including meals) will take place in outdoor settings, mask-wearing will be optional at the retreat.
Vaccination will not be required to participate in the retreat - unless mandated by the state of Hawaii for entry.
All retreats include a 25% deposit which is 100% refundable until September 30th, 2021. Remaining balances must be paid by January 31st, 2022 and are non-refundable, non-transferable. We must strictly adhere to this cancellation policy to offset costs incurred prior to the commencement of retreat.
Rest assured that if the whole retreat has to be cancelled due to a COVID-related change in Hawaii's policies, you will receive a full refund. However, if you are not able to come to the retreat due to a personal COVID-related incident (like testing positive before your flight) we will not be able to offer a refund. For this reason, we strongly suggest purchasing travel insurance at the time your book the retreat.
We strongly recommends the purchase of travel insurance to ensure that you are covered in case of any unexpected event. Many events may prevent or interrupt your travels, like personal, professional, medical, environmental or weather related events. Even though those events are rare, they can occur and reinforce the importance of being covered by travel insurance. Should you elect to not purchase travel insurance, you will be assuming 100% of any costs incurred for trip cancellation or trip interruption. All payments made to Presh Health are non-refundable and non-transferable.
TravelEx and
World Nomads are two reputable organizations. There is a broad spectrum of policies and options, so make sure you are clear on what exactly is covered.
You may fly into one of the two airports on the Big Island, both within a reasonable drive from our retreat location.
Kona International Airport (KOA) in Kona to the west is a 2-3-hour drive to the retreat venue depending on the route you take. This drive offers the opportunity to explore other parts of the island.
Hilo International Airport (ITO) in Hilo to the east is a 1-hour drive to the retreat venue.
There is also the option of flying into Honolulu International Airport (HNL) on Oahu first and then taking a short, 35-40 minute flight to the island of Hawaii.
We offer a complimentary shuttle from Hilo airport to the retreat center on March 10th at 3:00pm, and one from the retreat center to Hilo airport on the last day of the retreat on March 18th at 11:00am. Space on this shuttle is limited, so please contact us to reserve.
Renting a car for the duration of your stay will allow you the flexibility to fly into Kona airport and enjoy a longer and more scenic drive to our venue. It will also facilitate optional visits to nearby attractions such as Kehena beach (a 20-minute drive from our location).
If you do not plan on renting a car, you can get to Kirpal by Uber or taxi from the Hilo airport. The ride will be about 60-minutes and the cost is approximately $75 one-way. You will pay your driver directly.
The staff at Kirpal will also arrange airport pick-up at Hilo for $80 one-way. Their vehicle can hold up to 6 guests. This option must be arranged through the Kirpal center and payment will go to them directly. We are happy to put you in contact with them upon request.