Manabumi Eco-Retreat, Hawaii

Alexandra Haban is organizing this fundraiser.

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The mission and vision of Manabumi Retreat and Ecovillage on Big Island, Hawaii is to build a place where we can come together and experience a sense of community. We would like to create a space in which we can reconnect with our natural state of being one with the natural world, and to awaken and inspire a deep want to care for the planet.

The word Manabumi is inspired by the Sanskrit words Mana = Spirit and Bhumi=Land. All structures we are building on Manabumi, will be build in harmony with Aina, the spirit of the land.

Manabumi welcomes all races, creeds, genders, and ideologies. At Manabumi we focus on that which connects us rather than what we think divides us. Manabumi nurtures that spirit in us that make us seek a sense of tribal community, a feeling of belonging and purpose within a greater sense of being.

We explore alternative ways of living that are in harmony with the land, using ethics and appropriate technologies. Our visitors will stay in structures such as Wall Tents and Super Adobe Earth Shelters.

Whether individuals are seeking to reconnect with themselves, the community, feeling the earth in their hands in one of our hands-on sustainable living workshops, or simply come to recharge from a busy city life, Manabumi strives to hold a space for anyone interested in way of living that is healthy for them and the world around them.

We have the passion and heart to put all of ourselves into this amazing project. We are: Jesse, Christopher, Tomek and Alexandra. We don't have a lot of monetary funds, but with your help, we will bring to life this beautiful vision.

Some of the workshops we are planning to offer are:

- Hatha Yoga
- Budokon Yoga
- RYT 200 Yoga Teacher Training
- Massage Therapy
- Vermicomposting
- Organic Gardening
- Plant based cooking- Natural Beekeeping

We intend to focus on workshops that will let visitors take the knowledge back home with them so they may use what they learned at Manabumi in their own homes, apartments and communities. We hope to inspire us all to find practical solutions for our every day, modern challenges.

Manabumi would like to provide a space for indigeneous people to come and share their deep, cultural heritage with visitors who come to stay with us.

Manabumi will have several gardent intended to feed the caretakers, visitors and eventually, the greater community.

Building elements
1. Central cooking & community space
2. Central yoga, exercise, massage, class gazebo platform
3. As eco-friendly/green as possible using photovoltaics, permaculture, composting, etc..
4. As many different building elements as possible (bamboo, super adobe, shipping container, local Hawaii lumbers, tiny houses, yurts).
5. Rentable & demonstrable benefits from building for ecotourism, vacations, tourism, & retreats

Community focus
1. Teaching locals yoga, massage, exercise, detox, nutrition
2. We network with likeminded experts in health & wellness
3. We create programs if necessary to meet our purpose(s) & unmet needs of the community
4. In this order - Fern Acres, Kea'au, Hilo, Wet side of Big Island, Big Island, Hawaii

Eco-Agriculture
1. Locally grown vegetables
2. Permaculture principles: Convergence of common sense, indigenous wisdom and appropriate technology
3. Conservation of native plants and eradication of invasive plant species
4. Composting with worms
5. Educational programs within Hawaiian cultural frameworks

We have already begun to build and the first structure, a Yoga/Massage studio, is nearly completed.

The two most important first items we need to build, and we will need support with, is access to energy in form of sustainable, solar power and a water catchmen system. We will catch rain water for all our water needs as we are not connected to city water.

For these two imporant infrastructures, we ask your help. Part of our team is moving permanently to the Big Island in November 2015 to build. We would like to purchase the photovoltaic cells and water catchment system in advance so everything can be put in place as soon as we get there.

During this process we will continuously update you with photos of the construction process.

We are greatful for anyone who helps us make this vision become reality and, once we are ready to receive visitors, are welcoming you for a stay with us.

With gratitude,

Jesse, Christopher, Tomek and Alex
The Manabumi Team

The funds we are requesting will be used for:

1. Photovoltaics

2. Water Catchment