Press Kit

Natural Destination for Wellness Journeys

Hawaii’s Big Island – For travelers looking to relax and reconnect with nature – and themselves – there is no better destination than Hawaii’s Big Island. From luxurious Hawaiian-themed spas, to remote sun-swept coastlines, and rainforests alive with rejuvenating plants, to sacred mountain peaks and the world’s most active volcano, Hawaii’s Big Island has much to offer.

For centuries, native Hawaiians have revered nature’s bounty from mauka to makai (mountain to sea), and have developed the powerful healing arts of lomilomi massage, of la`au lapa`au (using native plants in healing practices) and ho`oponopono (soul-searching through self-awareness and forgiveness). The Hawaiians have shared their knowledge, and today, Hawaii’s Big Island is considered to be the center of Hawaiian healing practices.

But according to a highly respected Hawaiian healing practitioner, there is one essential ingredient to any Hawaiian healing experience: aloha.

“Without aloha – without love – for oneself, for the environment that surrounds you, for each other, how can you begin to heal anything? It all starts with aloha,” says Dane Silva, co-founder of the Hawaiian Lomilomi Association.

Aloha is abundant on Hawaii’s Big Island. Travelers can feel it in the sunshine that warms the multi-hued sands beneath their feet, in the clear, refreshing ocean waters, and hear it in the gentle rains that fall in the forest. They sense the aloha behind a wide smile and a sincere greeting.

For many travelers, simply visiting Hawaii’s Big Island and smelling the intoxicating fragrances of the flowers, beholding the creative powers of Hawaii’s volcano goddess Pele, and breathing in the world’s cleanest air, ignites a healing experience.

Silva, who operates a Hawaiian wellness retreat in coastal Puna, says the Big Island offers an all-encompassing experience.

“Hawaii’s Big Island is truly a convergence of healing modalities, and massage is just a part of it. Excursions into nature, healthy food and Hawaiian entertainment are part of a balanced agenda for wellness. Leave out one aspect, and you’re not getting the whole experience,” he says.