Nirvana: any place of complete bliss and delight and peace [synonyms: eden, paradise, heaven, promised land, Shangri-la].

“Nirvana” is what awaits guests of the Volcano Rainforest Retreat. Located one mile off Highway 11 in Volcano, Hawaii, a short 26-mile drive from Hilo (or a leisurely 103 miles from Kona), this intimate cluster of bed-and-breakfast cottages resides just minutes from “Volcano Village” and the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

On a kuleana (a small piece of property) of one and a half acres, guests are warmly greeted and treated like ohana (family) by Peter and Kathleen Golden, the retreat’s visionary proprietors. Like their visitors, the Goldens also made a pilgrimage to the land of Aloha “once upon a time” in search of peace and beauty. Little did they know that what was originally envisioned as their dream home location would evolve into a must-stay destination.

“The trademark of the Volcano Rainforest Retreat is the seamless connection between the inside, outside, the structures and nature,” states Kathleen. “People are inspired by the respectful way we’ve created this collection of rainforest hideaways--with elegant simplicity, in harmony and balance with the native surroundings and interconnected by paths that wind their way through the misty, mossy, volcanic landscape.”

The spirit of the Volcano Rainforest Retreat is expressed simply, yet in heartfelt words, by Kathleen. “We hope people will take with them a sense of ‘Aloha’ and especially ‘Aloha aina’ (love of the land),” she says. “We’d be touched if people deepened their respect for, and sensitivity to their closeness with, nature -- and were inspired to do their part in preserving and sustaining the natural life on our beautiful and fragile planet Earth. We also hope that people will take quality time to nurture themselves and cultivate a compassionate understanding for one another in their intimate relationships.”

The original half-acre near the Kilauea Volcano was purchased in 1981. However, land preparation didn’t begin until 1988, when Peter and his son Joshua used machetes to carve the original path into the dense Hawaiian rainforest. After the trailblazing, land clearing began with maximum sensitivity given to preserving the rainforest’s lofty ohia trees, giant ferns and delicate mosses.

In 1995, the Goldens initially opened their first cottage five to six days a month to people traveling to the Volcanoes National Park. The decision to become a bed and breakfast retreat was made, offering solace for artists, romantics and world-weary travelers seeking a place of refuge and intimate connect with the living volcanic earth.

The complex gracefully evolved over 18 years, building and weaving each structure into the landscape, as Peter and Kathleen refined their designs and conveyed their vision local builder/craftsmen, Kenneth Lahti (now retired), George Winarski, John Hubbard (now deceased) and Daniel Lepine. Collectively, this team brought life to the Goldens’ vision, utilizing cedar, redwood and fir, detailing the cottages with mango and bamboo flooring.

Each cottage is as unique and dynamic as the Goldens themselves, reflecting their timeless style while also incorporating Asian and Island influences, including thoughtful touches extending to the forest paths. The couple personally selected all color schemes, artifacts, books, music, furniture and fabrics from local vendors, as well as acquiring unique pieces during their world travels. Utae Arai Suzuki of Dragon Mama Futon Shop in Hilo also assisted in assembling designs to complement the earth tones of the cottages and the lushness of the forest.

The original Guest Cottage offers a covered länai, private gated entrance, cozy living room with wood-burning stove, treetop sleeping loft with a queen bed, a comfortable futon couch/double bed in the bay window, a full kitchen/dining area and a sky-lit bathroom opening to a path with access to the Jacuzzi hot tub in the Forest Pavilion. It has a rustic, charming feel with an eclectic theme, with handcrafted artifacts from Asia.

For their next cottage, the Sanctuary, the Goldens found a special setting, minimally disturbing the natural growth of native trees and giant tree ferns. This hexagonal (six-sided) cedar structure was originally conceived as a retreat/meditation space for Kathleen’s counseling and healing work (Kathleen Golden, M.A. is a counselor/healer with 35 years’ experience in education, counseling, meditation and Reiki natural healing). With a Japanese theme, shoji doors, low tables, floor cushions, an o’furo (Japanese soaking tub) and an outdoor shower, the Sanctuary became the retreat’s second guest cottage.

After purchasing another half-acre and inspired by the Sanctuary’s round space, Peter acquired a 12-sided kit home in 1995, created by Multi-facetted Homes. Peter consulted frequently with the company’s designer, Michael Joslin, as this structure became the Gathering Hale (house), the Goldens’ private residence and a space for couples' and meditation retreats. The Gathering Hale features French doors, a covered wrap-around deck, skylight dome and hexagonal bedroom. All artwork in the Gathering Hale reflects Hawaiian culture, including a commissioned acrylic of a Hawaiian woman in the hapu'u fern forest by Laka Morton, a native flowering lobelia plant watercolor by Marion Berger, and a copy of an original etching of a Hawaiian spiritual elder by local artist, Kathy Long.

The Forest House, featuring a connected walkway to the Gathering Hale, is an eight-sided structure with a skylight dome. It contains artifacts that reflect the native forest, such as sculpted masks of exotic native birds by artist Zeke Israel; photographs and paintings of the Hawaiian people; and flowing volcanic lava. The Forest Pavilion with Jacuzzi Hot Tub was built concurrently, offering a panoramic view of the rainforest and shared access for guests of the Guest Cottage and Forest House.

Peter purchased the final adjoining half-acre in 2003 and construction began on the Bamboo Guest House. The Goldens envision this secluded setting as the site of their retirement home, but currently it is offered to bed and breakfast guests. This guest cottage is surrounded by tree ferns and several varieties of bamboo including members of the Wamin and Himalayan species. The interior’s main room has a cupola (a small rooftop structure with clear story windows and a six-foot domed skylight) and windows etched with bamboo combs, stems and leaves. The interior décor boasts rich shades of red and purple and was built around an artistic centerpiece -- a silk painting called The Red Temple by local artist Phan Nguyen Barker. Additional touches include stained glass windows of native forest trees and birds and orchids by Jessica Taruni; a collection of Buddhas, numerous masks by local artist Ira Ono; unique photo images by local artist Chiu Leong; and artwork reflecting ancient hula by Kathy Long.

To further complement their stay, guests can also reserve body therapy time in the privacy of their own cottages. Hot Stone Massage (using smooth lava stones gathered from the island waters) and Hawaiian lomi lomi (loving hands) sessions are offered. Guests arrange their sessions directly with local available therapists.

The cottage guestbooks are filled with accolades from visitors. One passage reflects a universally expressed sentiment: " Romantic and real, a unique experience, inspiring us to care for our own home and ourselves with creativity and love."

By September 2006, the Goldens’ personal parking pavilion and greenhouse will be completed, almost 40 years after Peter first hiked the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park trails and dreamed of living on the land one day. The enlightenment has come through the journey – and in the relationships they’ve forged while creating their oasis.

A striking landscape remains just so much earth and sky, until someone with a sensitive vision gazes upon it. Similarly, a few close-nestled cottages can be just buildings -- unless they are invested with loving energy by special people like Peter and Kathleen Golden. In the Volcano Rainforest Retreat, these elements of natural beauty…architectural and decorative charm…and above all, an endearing and enduring spirit of Aloha…combine to create a calming, timeless synthesis of ecology and energy, and of humanity and Hawai’i. It’s a retreat that visitors may never wish to retreat from!

Volcano Rainforest Retreat
www.volcanoretreat.com
800-550-8696 / 808-985-8696