Hawaii's First Edventure Retreat Offers Yoga, Meditation and Watersports in Authentic, Elegant Surroundings

Adaptive Reuse of Heritage Buildings by Xorin Balbes Yields Chic Island Sanctuary for Mind, Body and Spirit

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. July 10, 2012

MAKAWAO, MAUI, HAWAII - July 10, 2012 - Lumeria Maui, on the North Shore of Hawaii's most popular island, has officially opened its doors. Set on six acres with ocean views, the edVenture (educational adventure) retreat is the vision of Xorin Balbes, an award-winning architectural conservator and interior designer famous for high profile restorations. As Lumeria's founder, owner and curator, Balbes created Lumeria Maui for individuals ready for a new destination experience combining adventure and personal enrichment in an intimate, authentic environment.

“Lumeria is a vision of how I dreamed of living my own life,” says Balbes, “cultivating an awareness of my connection to the earth through the quality of the food I eat; to that which is invisible, through meditation; and to the supple, strong openness realized through practicing yoga. All of this became possible for me personally when I moved to Hawaii, but the desire to share it with others is what truly
makes it all come alive. Opening a retreat center that nourishes people on every level has been a lifelong dream.”

Uniquely combining yoga, active sports and other educational programs with intentional design, organic food, detoxifying cuisine and a welcoming spirit, Lumeria Maui is poised to become Hawaii's premier alternative travel destination for a new age of wellbeing. Comprised of 24 simple yet elegant guest rooms and suites, the intimate scale is naturally complemented by spacious ocean views and a luxurious landscape rich with secluded meditation gardens, edible and tropical gardens, and lawn terraces for group yoga or leisurely croquet.

Lumeria Maui is a collection of five lodge buildings connected in traditional Hawaii style by continuous covered lanais. The property, originally built in 1909 by the Baldwin sugar cane family, has been meticulously renovated and freshly interpreted. In addition to being one of the island's most ambitious adaptive reuse projects, Lumeria has been added to the National Registry of Historic Places. Restoration and design was done by Templehome Design of which Balbes is a principal.

Accommodations feature an eclectic mix of furnishings sourced from East and West, representing the retreat's goal to unite and welcome a variety of cultures from around the globe. Guest rooms and common areas boast ocean and mountain views, and Lumeria's lush tropical grounds inspire peace, relaxation and restoration of mind, body and spirit. Room rates at Lumeria Maui include a light organic breakfast and daily meditation and yoga instruction.

Organic enthusiasts, yogis, and foodies alike will be delighted by Lumeria's farm-to-table dining cafe, Harvest. With ingredients sourced from its own gardens and other local farms (all vegetables and fruits served at Lumeria come from within 10 miles of the property), Chef Ben Diamond provides delicious, sustainable meals to support and enliven mind, body and spirit.

In Hawaiian culture, people are not separate from the land. For this reason, Lumeria Maui is dedicated to offering comprehensive programs in growing and understanding the source of our food. A weekly gardening class includes a signature overview with a guided walking tour of native plant gardens led by a revered local kahuna; the harvesting of ingredients for a meal from the organic gardens; and lessons on creating a thriving organic garden at home. Aromatherapy - The Ancient Secrets of Essential Oils also taps into the magic of plants in creating personal blends for healing body, mind and soul. Classroom facilities consist of an onsite yoga studio/meeting room, an outdoor yoga platform, outdoor classrooms and off-site partner locations. Updated class schedules are published weekly on lumeriamaui.com/calendar /.

Inspired by the renowned beaches of the nearby North Shore, Lumeria Maui's water and wave sport classes and activities focus on surfing, stand up paddle boarding, kite surfing and wind surfing. Programs are led by world-class professional water sports athletes such as Suzie Cooney, among others, and enable participants to learn technical skills as well as the importance of the ocean to Hawaiian culture. Lumeria Maui's yoga programs are led by a changing roster of globally trained guest yoga masters that have made Maui their home.

Upcoming retreats and workshops at Lumeria include:

July 27-31 - Rejuvenation Retreat with Dina Amsterdam
August 2-9 - The Art of the Memoir - Writing Intensive with Rebecca Walker
August 6-12 - Maui Yoga Retreat with Nikki Wong
November 5-11 - Cycle to the Sun 2012 with GoCycle Maui! With Donnie Arnault
May 1-6 - Ram Dass Spring 2013 Retreat
Up to date retreat listings may be found on lumeriamaui.com/specialevents-guests.

Lumeria Maui introductory rates start at $349 per night plus tax for a double occupancy guestroom. For reservations, please contact Lumeria Maui at Toll Free: 1-855-579-8877 or (808) 579-8877 or visit lumeriamaui.com. For group reservations, contact Janelle Littleton, 1-855-579-8877.

Media Contact:
Paul Burditch/Liz Mazurski
Burditch Marketing Communications
(415) 874-9696
[email protected]; [email protected]