There is so much to say about this place, I will try to do my best to write it all. I spent 30 great days full of connection and adventure.
The heart of this place:
Ryan and Angela, the owners of this paradise are so well intentioned and warm hearted, they take hospitality to another level. I was happy to spend nights with them sharing dinners they made, learning about Hawaiian culture, traditions, as well as connecting and dancing.The co-host Lindi who also resides in the manaloli is the sweetest and attentive person. I loved going to visit her in the farmers market. The house dog, Aries is very well behaved, playful and loveable dog. The rest of the community members including Juan and Diedrick are very engaging and offer opportunities for collaboration on work and adventure.
The spirit of this place:
Its a haven. It is such a peaceful, serene and beautiful piece of land. There is a reason sense of magic experienced here. In the morning the cool air comes in, nature begins to sing and in the afternoon everyone is up and about in the warm sun. At night you see the stars on a non cloudy day and you hear the coquis.
The space:
If you want a sense of a family away from home, this is for you. Most places are shared with 1 more airbnb guestroom, the owners Ryan and Angela and the permanent community members. It reminds me of a cabin by the woods but its in a rainforest and the cabin is Hawaiian style. I used the meditation room separate from house and outside gym often. I loved the open flow of air that would come into the huge bathroom, I also enjoyed a couple of relaxing bathes here. I often painted and worked from the laundry room, so much space for creativity here. There is a great approx 7 mile loop you can do from manaloli if you like to walk/run the outdoors.
The elephant in the room, the pandemic:
It was always clean. They have a cleaning schedule for the public places and during pandemic times, soap , hand sanitizer , tempature checks and masks available for everyone's use as needed. Everyone is vigilant and if there were any symptoms shown by anyone they were addressed in friendly way. While there, I got allergies and just to make sure, I went to the pharmacy 20 min away, got the test and had it back within 72 hours. We always were transparent and clear in commuting, I decided to isolate during that time and for precaution they did a deep clean of everything. I was negative in covid results and I felt super safe and well taken care of with empathy during the 'unknown'. Everyone there respects the island rules, masks are on anywhere you go in public. At the house there was always plenty of space to keep at a distance and outside when permanent residents were around.
Added value:
I love that they offer food from the land and meals every other day and pantry items at no additional cost. We also traded services for rides to the airport and weekend adventures. I left with so many more lifetime friends then I ever imagined.
I am so thankful to have been in manaloli I can't wait to return next time I am around . Truly, Life-Changing experience