Beloved Kapoho Sanctuary Lost to the Current Kilauea Eruption
It is with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart that I announce the complete annihilation of Kapoho Bay, home to our beloved Kapoho Sanctuary residential program location. Kapoho Bay was filled by lava and Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland covered by lava from the 2018 May/June Leilani Estates volcanic eruption. Our house first became a kipuka for several days surrounded by burning lava and boiling waters, but finally succumbed to Pele’s fire on June 5th.
The lava flow originating from Fissure 8 in Leilani Estates entering Kapoho Bay. © USGS
By the morning of June 5, the fissure 8 lava flow front had completely filled Kapoho Bay. © USGS
When I came to the Big Island, 18 years ago, in search of a place to establish our healing center, I fell in love with Kapoho Bay, its bubbling champagne pond, magical tidal pools and peaceful warm waters intermingling with scarce land. I acquired a house for myself in the Kapoho Beach Lots to commune with the beauty of this piece of paradise.
Turtles were a common sight in the bubbling champagne pond.
I enjoyed exploring the rugged coast, jogging to Green Lake, biking to the warm pond and swimming with turtles and fish in the beautiful tide pools filled with coral. I got to experience the healing power of nature in Kapoho Bay and felt that I needed to share it with others. I opened the house to our patients to facilitate their transformational work, and established a positive, trusting bond within a safe environment.
Today, a new land is born. Kapoho Bay and Kapoho Sanctuary are no more.
Was it a dream?
Yes, indeed it was a dream. A dream of a peaceful world, trusting and sharing humans living in harmony with other beings, animals and plants. Today, I am grieving the death of Kapoho Bay, however the dream is still alive and even stronger. In the same way Pele created a new land, she is inspiring me to create a new and more solid place. Death is followed by rebirth and like the phoenix being reborn from it’s ashes, we will move through the wheel of transformation for an ever better future. Thank you, Pele, for your reminder.
I like to share some pictures in this video for those of you who had the chance to enjoy Kapoho while we were there, as a remembrance of the beauty and magic of Kapoho Sanctuary.
Maya Nicole Baylac – Founder of Hawaii Naturopathic Retreat Center
All programs and services continue and are not affected.
Residential programs are offered at Aloha Wellness Inn (Hilo) and Luana Inn (Kealakekua Bay).
We continue to serve our mission and our patients. Call 808-933-4400 today to find out more about our programs.
If you would like to see some beautiful video footage of the lava fountain from fissure 8 and the lava channel that’s flowing towards Kapoho and creating new land, visit Tropical Visions Video.
