Hedonisia Hawaii Tropical Farm Retreat
Our Eco-Friendly Policies for Sustainable Tourism & Community Living
1 - Energy. Though we are still connected to the electrical grid we are fortunate in that our electrical needs are met by a geothermal power plant located nearby. Puna Geothermal Venture uses hot liquids from deep underground the slopes of Kiluaea Volcano to drive steam turbine generators. So we can truly say that Hedonisia Hawaii is powered by a mighty volcano!
2 - Environmental Restoration and Rehabilation. We are working to restore the land from it's past use as a car junkyard to a lush tropical Garden of Eden with many delicious fruit trees and beautiful tropical plants. We have learned that today's world has been so poisoned by the activities of Man that we have to learn how to restore Mother Nature as well as to preserve what's left.
3 - Recycle. As best as possible, we try to recycle all bottles, glass, cans, plastic bottles, paper, scrap metal, old clothing and other items by taking the time to properly sort them and then bring them to the nearby county run Kea'au Recycling & Reuse Center. This place is one of the best one-stop-shops for all recycling needs. Other communities around the world would do well to take note of just how much more efficient and successful it is for one place to bring all recyclables. In addition, they have a store of donated items which is an excellent place to get free clothing or to buy furniture and other household items extremely cheaply. For more info on Hawaii Recycling go to: http://hawaiizerowaste.org/
4 - Reduce: We try to follow these principles in all aspects of our hostel maintenance and management. We use frozen water bottles from the refrigerator for coolers so Guests and Volunteers can keep food items private and cool without having to utilise more fridge space thus reducing the need for more refrigerators.
5 - Re-use: Before something is truly needed to be thrown away it can often be reused in an imaginative way. For example, old towels left by guests are converted into cleaning rags. Old tents are cut up and sewn together into entirely new living structures such as the Jungle Breeze living space.
6 - Material Donations: Much of the materials used for construction of Ocean View, Sunnyside, Guava Tent, Jungle Breeze, Bamboo Hut are either from natural renewable sources such as bamboo or is recycled from items that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. We Use Freecycle to advertise for any particular materials that we need. As well, we receive much donated material from various people around the island. Here is a list of the items we currently need.
7 - Compost & Mulch. The stars at Hedonisia are the beautiful flowers and marvelous variety of fruits and perennial vegetables. We do not use chemical fertilisers or pesticides on the plants at Hedonisia. We use natural green waste mulch that we generate from our compost or weeds.
8 - Drinking Water. Bottled Water has been described as been described as one of the biggest scams perpetuated in the Western world. At Hedonisia Hawaii we encourage our Guests to drink our Rainforest Generated County Supplied TAP water! To read more about the Great Bottled Water Scam click here.
9 - Toilet. Our Eco friendly Toilet-with-a-Garden View is literally the most photographed room on the property! Though the toilet itself is a normal flush toilet; it is located in a private tropical garden! 
Toilet paper is one of the greatest paper disasters on the planet. Millions and millions of trees die every year so we can wipe our bottoms in a fashion that is not very hygienic. Toilet paper is of course provided but at Hedonisia we do encourage guests to use our built in bidet "bum washer" which allows you to use less toilet paper as well as to enjoy a "cleaner" feeling that comes from washing instead of wiping!
As well, we allow both men and women to pee anywhere with discretion (no food gardens!) Certain tropical plants such as bamboo, coconut, papaya love to be peed on! We have also created an eco-friendly Pee Garden! It is female friendly so women can enjoy peeing safely in the great outdoors whilst refreshing a plant and causing less usage of the toilet facilities which means less water from flushing and toilet paper.
10 - Eco-Building. All our Guest and Volunteer Lodgings are eco-friendly temporary structures designed with sustainable natural resources or salvageable building or other materials. Each structure on the property has unique eco-features.
As a result of our Green Sustainable Business and Social Policies, Hedonisia Hawaii has been officially designated as an Eco-Hostel by Hostelworld International
Mother Nature in Hawai'i
Many people contact us with one big question . . . Are there any snakes or other dangerous creepie crawlies?!
One thing unique in the Hawaiian rainforest compared to all other rainforests in the world is the lack of dangerous creatures here. To give just one example there are no snakes here. Compare that to the Caribbean island of Trinidad where there are 7 deadly species of snake to choose from!
The Hawaiian Rainforest is the safest Jungle in the world! There are no animals to really cause you harm. About the only creature that gives a painful sting is the centipede.
And if you do get stung by a centipede all you have to do is put urine on the sting. (Yes urine! It reduces the swelling and pain). Even if you are not able to access a readily available urine source the sting is just painful for a while and there will be some swelling and then it will start to subside. It's about the equivalent of a wasp sting.
One aspect of jungle living is marvelling at the sheer number and variety of life forms that Mother Nature produces. To give just one example, there is a wispy ethereal insect called the Mosquito Hawk that sort of floats around and hunts mosquitos. You will surely see one if you come here and if you do . . . Don't kill it! They are our friends because they reduce the mosquito population.
In the jungle there are insects. That is a simple fact of nature. If you are coming here you will see many different kinds of insect but they are all harmless. Even the centipede will run away on it's hundred legs if it hears you coming!
Of course, if you are an insectophobe then perhaps a sanitized beach resort is for you! But if you'd like to enjoy lush warm jungle then this place is a tropical paradise!
Perhaps the most dangerous natural phenomenum in Hawai'i is the ocean water itself. Hawaiian surf and ocean currents can be strong so be fully aware of your limitations when swimming in the open Hawaiian ocean!