Maui Yoga and Sports Retreat: Lanakila's Story

By Laurel (Lanakila) White

Come and Get It! Paradise, that is! Aloha 'oe! (Aloha to you! / May you be loved!). I'm Lanakila, a health and nature guide living on Maui. Folks have been coming to stay with me for 3 years to get cleansed and healthy while I introduce them to ancient Hawai'i and our most beautiful ocean waters, lush mountain valleys and active volcanoes.

When I moved to Maui in 1999, I brought a new form of yoga to the islands; Bikram Yoga. Of course, being the windsurfing capital of the world had nothing to do with my decision to move here. My very first foray into being a pioneering entrepreneur was a windsurfing school and shop in Malibu, CA., in 1979.

After building two yoga studios here on Maui and selling them, I wanted to incorporate more of the outdoors and nutrition into what I offer, because it feels so good! And it's Hawai'i. My ancestors were calling!

I am from a pioneering family, on both sides. An Irish sea captain named Captain James Fitch married a Spanish maiden named Josefa Carrillo, in the early California days, starting Old Town San Diego. They eventually moved north and were given a land grant of what is known today as, Sonoma County. On my father's side, my great grandmothers' grandfather (kupuna) was brother to King Kamehameha and her grandmother (kupuna) was sister to Queen Kaahumanu.

Now that's some serious pioneering on both sides especially when the Germans marry the Hawaiians. Well, in the tradition of my DNA, we're about to pioneer again. This time, in the name of Saving and Healing our Environment, starting here in Hawaii. Basically paying the debts of our ancestors who raped and pillaged the Earth in the name of technology and convenience, leaving us with dirty air, water and food. Our grandchildren won't have that happen to them if I can help it.

Just today, one of our island eco-tour trips to the island of Lanai, manifested lots of magic, which is what Lanakila means in Hawaiian (well, not really, but it does mean Victory, which comes from my Ha'ole name, Laurel (wreath). Ha'ole is the Hawaiian name given to 'white man', literally meaning, without breath. Interesting, hmmm?

We camped on the beach, under the Milky Way, which I've never seen so clearly and fully. We woke up to the sights of spinner dolphins frolicking in the Bay. They come to rest in a safe place, as they've been fishing all night long. They are winding down so we can only say hello for a moment and do a few spins with them.

We grabbed our snorkels, went from sleeping bags to wetsuit tops and dove in. In minutes the whole pod was checking us out and playing with us. It's a very big bay, so you don't want to go swimming after them. Let them come to you. That's the protocol. There's a little secret though, that brings them straight to us. Giggle loudly underwater. Gets them every time, you know why? Because their true self and essence is JOY! Come to them in that state and you'll have the experience of your life. Even if you're not in that state, you'll go home in that ecstatic state. I love to see your faces light up ! And for those guests who are a little timid of the water – my easy, safe techniques help you rid yourself of that energy, for life. Freedom!

My current guest visiting from Whistler, B Canada, had a joyful time and I took pics to prove it. I always provide a CD with photos of our Hawaiian Light Journeys, from the moment you land to the moment you fly away. Even the underwater ones with the cetaceans (whale and dolphin genus). In the winter we have the whales to play with too.

'Ike 'oe? (Did you know) that cetaceans, along with bats, are considered some of the most derived mammals on the planet? They evolved from terrestrial animals to an entirely aquatic life form that is completely separated from the land in all aspects of biology. Cetaceans live, breed, rest, and carry out all of their life functions in the water. The earth is 75% covered by water, and the same statistic is true of our human bodies. Lean muscle tissue contains about 75% water. Blood contains 83% water, body fat contains 25% water and bone has 22% water. Interesting, hmm?

Now if you're here for a cleanse and rejuvenation, we may not surf at dawn and wind or kitesurf in the afternoon with a protein salad fit for an athlete as we do in our Yoga Sports Week, but I do have some special hikes and lazy snorkel spots that tantalize every cell of one's being while you rest and juice fast through your day. After a cleanse, which consists of the following, daily; organic juicing, infra-red sauna and yoga with some massage and colonics thrown in, your cells are tantalized all by themselves. Add a few waterfall adventures or a private plane ride to Molokai and every part of you is buzzin'!

And if swimming with dolphins in the wild wasn't enough, as soon as we got back on the beach, we were offered a private plane ride back to Maui by someone I met on the beach. Just how life tends to go when 'journeying with Lanakila'.

Our generous pilot friend has a ranch on Molokai and has just said YES, to flying my guests there, as an option for your Adventure week here with me. Yippee ! Just what I asked my Universe for, just last week! (I teach manifestation too!) Each time we visit his ranch, we have to plant a tree. A condition I just made up.

I believe that the state of Hawai'i can be the leader and example of how we can live for our entire nation. Until everyone has enough food to eat, a place to lay their head and enough love to carry them through life with enough confidence to strive for one's dreams, I embark upon this mission, right here in Hawai'i. Retreats will now have an added feature where one can come and learn how to go back to nature, live with it harmoniously, learn of alternative energy production, food production, and most importantly, bringing the earth and it's water back to a healthy state for all.

'Going back to Nature' with a healing difference. There will be a space where the children come to learn about life, by growing food and living landscape architecture, erecting sustainable structures with resources from our environment, like bamboo. Call it a new paradigm school for our next generation who will be running this country. The adults will come learn FROM the children! Read the 'Anastasia' books and you'll know what I mean.

It is possible for each and every family to have all that it needs, and if you don't think so, I'll come over to your house, bring some seeds and plant you an edible garden that will save you 100's of dollars each month for a family of four. I do house calls, for cleansing or planting or manifesting! Try planting your fence with bushes and trees instead of cut wood or steel. It lasts a lot longer and sure looks and smells better.

What these concepts do for the kids is infinite in its wisdom and joy as they would like nothing more than to assist, in everything, in the garden, in life. Watch how that reduces the crime and drug rate.

See you in Paradise. Pick an island and let's go plant a tree, camp under the stars, learn from organic farmers and Hawaiian Kahunas and kayak some of the most stunning coastlines you'll ever see.

Kipa mai! Come visit!

Mahalo nui loa (Thank you very much) for listening.

Hiki kookoona (Reach for ) Nâ Hôkû (the stars)!