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What are the accommodations?
Hale Kai (ocean house) is an ocean front retreat in South Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. Described by guests as a work of art, Hale Kai offers beautiful open air living in a peaceful and inspirational environment about 500 feet from the Pacific Ocean. The Balinese style Yoga space, kitchen, and accommodations blend with the spirit of old Hawaii to create a magical place for our retreat.
There are many bedrooms in the main house and in the screened bungalows located around the main house. There are some bedrooms, which are single occupancy, and some that are shared occupancy. There is a a price difference (see below) if you choose to be in a single room with your own bath. There are plenty of bathrooms, some exclusive to the bedrooms. But, our favorite is an outdoor shower tucked inside the lush, Hawaiian flora…it will be your favorite too.
Hale Kai is not your normal retreat center. It is a sustainable retreat center that is off the grid. They use solar energy so the showers are warm during the day when the sun is out. There are three showers that are warm 24 hours a day. We will spend the week very close to nature and relax in the rhythm of nature. You will not be able to use hair dryers (but you won’t need it)
Layout of the house
*ganesha 1 queen/full bath ($1200 extra)
*bali 2 full/bath
*lanai 1 full (shared bath with master room) *this room is my favorite room because it is right by the ocean but it does not have a ton of privacy
*Timor 1 queen/bath ($1200 extra)
*sanang 1 queen, 1 single, 1 double futon built in
*garden 1 queen, 1 single bath
*gecko 1 queen, 1 single, half bath
*Rose 1 Queen ($1200 extra)
*Nai’a 2 single beds
There are also wonderful outdoor showers available…
Single rooms available for $1200 extra.
What will the food be like?
We will offer healthy meals at the retreat with fresh fruits and vegetables. Please let us know if you have dietary restrictions. There will be 2 lunches and 2 dinners that are not provided by us so plan to bring some cuisine cash for those times.
Do I Have to Be Experienced At Yoga?
The retreat is open to all levels of yoga experience, from fresh beginner to the practiced yogini, as each will practice according to individual need. We also do Qigong and a great “Awakening of the Senses practice” and foundation training with Vicki Hunter.
Do I need to be a swimmer to attend this Retreat?
No. There are floatation devices available for rent. Also available for rent are masks, fins and snorkels. We provide levels of support from our staff for everyone from the non-swimmer to the experienced swimmer. Sea kayaking and stand up paddleboard has been a favorite for all!
How Many participants will the Retreat include?
This Retreat is cozy. It is limited to 14 Women.
What will a typical day be like at this Retreat?
Yoga for every skill level, great food, running or walking, exploring, swimming and visiting with magical sea creatures, special programs and free time. There will also be a great massage therapist joining us who will be available for you to book appointments with for an extra cost.
What Will the Weather Be Like?
The temperature at Hale Kai, sea level, ranges from a high of 80 degrees and a low of 62 degrees. Hawaii has different climate zones and eco-systems because it begins at sea level and rises to 14,000 feet.
Am I in good enough shape to do the retreat?
We adapt to all levels of fitness. Groups are formed according to each woman’s level of fitness, experience, and desire to challenge themselves. We do suggest that you start a training or workout program before you come so that you can get the most out of the retreat. Your training does not need to be a hard-core program…just get out and PLAY and BE ACTIVE several days a week.
Do I need to be an athlete to attend this retreat?
The retreat is open to all levels of yoga, swim and hammock experience.
We feel the definition of an athlete is one who enjoys being active on a regular basis – not a competitive warrior. As mentioned above, advanced swim skills are helpful for this retreat. We can adapt to all levels in yoga and relaxation! We have a wonderful supporting staff to help you every step of the way and all sessions will be made accessible for all participants.
Do I have to participate in everything on the schedule?
You do not need to participate in everything; you can pace yourself so that it is the perfect amount of activity for you. We fully support you in doing as much or as little as is right for you in the moment. The schedule gives you a sense of the flow of each day. It is subject to change, depending upon the needs of the group, weather, etc. We will go over the schedule each day at breakfast.
What is the average age on this retreat?
We have a wide range of women who attend our retreats, from 15-75 years young. Each retreat will vary but Hawaii is for EVERYONE. Last year we had a wonderful Mother/Daughter pair that attended.
What if I am coming alone?
The majority of the women who attend our retreats come by themselves. Hawaii is a safe and easy country to travel as a single female.. Although you may come alone, you will leave the retreat with new, lifelong friends!
Payment Policy
Payment in full for all retreats is due 90 days prior to the retreat date. If you do not provide payment in full by 90 days prior to the retreat you risk losing your reservation. All deposits are non-refundable.
A 4% payment processing fee will be added to all payments made using PayPal, Stripe or Venmo. You are welcome to send in a check or pay by Zelle to avoid this fee.
Cancellation Policy
If you must cancel a reservation, a full refund, less your deposit which is non-refundable, will be provided for any cancellation we receive in writing at least 91 days prior to the commencement date of the retreat. We are sorry but we cannot refund any payments for cancellations made 90 or fewer days prior to the commencement of the retreat.
We reserve the right to cancel retreats with inadequate participant interest. Women’s Quest IS NOT responsible for any personal expenses, such as airline tickets due to changes in schedules or tour cancellations.
Covid-19 Policy
Cancellations by Women’s Quest: Women’s Quest reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel or reschedule any retreat due to concerns over Covid-19. As a small company Women’s Quest is unfortunately not able to provide refunds of payments for retreats cancelled by Women’s Quest due to the Covid pandemic. This is primarily due to our financial commitments with the various retreat venues. As a result, in the event Women’s Quest cancels or reschedules a retreat due to Covid-19 Women’s Quest will apply all payments to the rescheduled or following year’s retreat, or to any other Women’s Quest retreat of your choosing through the end of the next year after the year in which the retreat was cancelled by Women’s Quest. Because of the unforeseen and unprecedented circumstances of the outbreak, this policy supersedes earlier policies.
Cancellations by You: If you need or desire to cancel your reservation due to Covid-19, or failure to comply with the requirements of a negative test and being symptom free, this cancellation is subject to the Cancellation Policy above. This is why we urge everyone to purchase travel insurance when signing up.
Covid Waiver and Release
This waiver, release and acknowledgement of responsibilities is unfortunately necessary during this unique time of the Covid 19 pandemic. By signing up for and or attending any Women’s Quest retreat you agree to be bound by the terms of this document. We understand these times are challenging, however, these provisions are necessary to protect all attendees and staff members of Women’s Quest.
Testing For and Symptoms of Covid 19. Irrespective of vaccination status you are required to provide a negative test for Covid 19 taken within 3 days of the commencement of the retreat. This test can be either a PCR test or a home antigen test. Also, irrespective of your vaccination status, you agree you will not attend the retreat if you have any symptoms of Covid 19 immediately prior to the beginning of the trip. These symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea (these, along with symptoms outline in the following link and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control shall be collectively referred to as the “Symptoms”.) More information on symptoms of Covid 19 can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
Symptoms During the Retreat. In the event you develop any Symptoms during the retreat you must immediately leave the retreat and follow protocols outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and all local regulations. We understand this may result in you incurring significant expenses associated with separate accommodation and travel, however, you understand these expenses are not the responsibility of Women’s Quest and must be incurred by you. You agree to be fully honest with Women’s Quest staff in regard to any Symptoms you may develop and agree to comply with a request by Women’s Quest staff to depart as determined by Women’s Quest staff in their sole discretion. As provided below, this is why we strongly urge everyone to get travel insurance covering these and other expenses prior to departure.
Procedures During the Retreat. During the retreat Women’s Quest may, but need not, endeavor to practice social distancing and wearing of masks when traveling in close proximity. You agree to comply with all requests of Women’s Quest staff during the retreat related to these procedures. Any such procedures implemented by Women’s Quest are not a guaranty you will not be exposed to Covid 19 and you understand you are responsible for taking any precautions you deem necessary and providing your own personal protective equipment during the retreat. You also agree to comply with any reasonable requests by other attendees to respect their social distancing and other protective measures (“Participant Requests”.) Notwithstanding the foregoing, you are responsible to comply with all laws and regulations of the locality visited relating to protections against Covid 19.
Waiver of Coronavirus Related Illness; Indemnification. You understand that irrespective of protective measures that Women’s Quest or you may or may not take, you may be exposed to Covid 19 by another retreat attendee, a Women’s Quest staff member and or an individual to whom you may be exposed during, or traveling to or from the retreat. You agree to waive and release Women’s Quest, its officers, directors, staff, employees, contractors, and partners from any claims, liabilities or damages you may incur in the event you contract Covid 19 at any time during travel to, attending or after attending the retreat. You further agree to indemnify and hold harmless Women’s Quest, its officers, directors, staff, employees, contractors, and partners from any loss, liability or damages it or they may incur as a result of your failure to receive a negative test for Covid 19 prior to the retreat as provided above, attending the retreat with any Symptoms, not respecting Participant Requests, and not immediately departing the retreat if you develop any Symptoms.
Cancellation. In the unfortunate event you need to cancel your trip, cannot attend due to contracting Covid 19 or developing Symptoms prior to the retreat, or must leave the retreat due to contracting Covid 19 or developing Symptoms, Women’s Quest cannot provide any refund of any amounts you paid.
Travel Insurance. As provided in this document you could incur significant personal expense in the event you contract Covid 19 or develop any Symptoms during the retreat. As such, you are strongly urged to obtain travel insurance that provides adequate protections against these risks.
Additional Waiver. This waiver is incorporated into and made a part of other waivers you agreed to in connection with signing up for the retreat. In the event of a conflict between these terms and the terms of any other waiver, this waiver shall govern.
Purchasing Travel Insurance
We highly, highly recommend you get travel insurance to cover your expenses and losses in the event you test positive or come down with Symptoms prior to the retreat, develop Symptoms during the retreat, or cannot return home due to Covid related issues. We recommend getting insurance that covers the cost of your trip, medical care while at the retreat, and coverage to pay for the necessary quarantine period if you test positive or come down with Covid. Please remember, if you have to cancel your trip in the unfortunate event you come down with Covid, test positive, or suffer Symptoms prior to or during the retreat and need to leave, Women’s Quest cannot provide a refund since we have to pay your trip expenses well ahead of time.
If you are concerned about travel and the changing environment in which we are living irrespective of your Covid status, we recommend getting travel insurance that allows you to cancel for any reason. This coverage is more expensive, however, may provide you with the coverage and flexibility you desire.
Irrespective of the travel insurance you get, please make sure you talk to a travel insurance agent prior to buying any insurance and make sure you have the coverage you desire and that the policy will cover trip cancellation, medical expenses and trip interruption due to Covid.