Kirpal Meditation & Ecological Center

What Kirpal Meditation & Ecological Center does

Kirpal Meditation & Ecological Center (KMEC) is a privately held, for-profit spiritual retreat center operating on a 10-acre organic orchard at 13-260 Pohoiki Road in Pāhoa on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Founded in 2004 by Leonard Sussman in the spiritual lineage of Param Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj, KMEC combines meditation, yoga, and nature-immersive hospitality for individual seekers, families, retreat facilitators, and small groups. Core inventory consists of nine hand-built cabins and rooms (singles through four-guest options, $96-$210/night), a custom Balinese Meditation Pavilion accommodating 20-30 people, a 1,000+ sq ft open-air Yoga Hale, and a community kitchen, all supported by off-grid infrastructure (solar power, rainwater catchment/purification, WiFi, hot water). Total on-property capacity is ~30 overnight guests with camping overflow and outside B&B coordination.

KMEC generates revenue through three primary streams: (1) nightly cabin and room accommodations booked direct-to-consumer via its WebRez booking engine, (2) full-facility rentals to external retreat organizers who host branded retreats (yoga, meditation, surf-and-yoga, holistic nutrition/detox, somatic embodiment) and bring their own student base — a documented partner channel that has produced retreats led by EBB Somatic Collective, Motive Yoga Co., Shaktipat Hawaii, SOULMATIC Sanctuary and others between 2024-2026, and (3) ancillary services including daily vegan/gluten-free meals sourced from the on-site orchard and a 7-seater Hilo Airport shuttle ($100 one-way / $180 round-trip). Pricing for individual cabins is publicly published; group retreat packages are quote-based. The center is bootstrapped, founder-owned, has no institutional funding, and does not disclose financial results.

Operationally, KMEC runs 365 days a year with multiple daily meditation sessions, daily yoga, and a volunteer program that supports community engagement. The GTM motion combines direct website booking, event-driven retreats marketed through third-party facilitators' audiences, and community-led word-of-mouth via volunteers and testimonials. Marketing channels are limited to the website, an email newsletter, organic Instagram galleries, and referrals from facilitator partners; there is no paid acquisition or programmatic distribution.

Name

Kirpal Meditation & Ecological Center

Legal name

Kirpal Meditation & Ecological Center

Website

https://kmechawaii.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kirpal Meditation & Ecological Center (KMEC) is a privately held, off-grid yoga and meditation retreat center on a 10-acre organic orchard in Pāhoa, Hawai'i, serving individual spiritual seekers, yoga practitioners, families, and external retreat facilitators through cabin rentals and full-facility group bookings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wellness Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness) (THAGAMAB)

Keywords

• Yoga meditation retreat
• Wellness retreat center
• Spiritual retreat services
• Ecological accommodation
• Holistic wellness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pahoa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Cabin and Room Accommodations: Individual cabins and rooms rented on a nightly basis. Options range from $96/night (Milo single cabin) to $210/night (Butterfly & DragonFly premium cabins). Each cabin includes access to community amenities, meditation pavilion, and yoga hale.
2. Private Group Retreat Packages: The entire KMEC facility can be rented out for private group retreats 365 days a year. Full-service staff assist with designing custom retreats in yoga, surf and yoga, meditation, spirituality, and holistic nutrition/detox. Pricing negotiated separately.
3. Airport Shuttle Service: Shuttle service from Hilo airport to KMEC for approximately $100 one-way ($180 round-trip) for up to 6 passengers in a 7-seater minivan. Offered as an add-on service for arriving guests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kirpal Meditation & Ecological Center (KMEC) is a spiritual retreat center on Hawaii's Big Island that rents private cabins ($96-$210/night) and offers personal retreat packages, full-facility group retreat rentals, daily meditation and yoga sessions, organic farm-to-table vegan/gluten-free meals, and airport shuttle service. The 10-acre off-grid property combines a custom Balinese Meditation Pavilion, a 1000+ sq ft open-air Yoga Hale, and 30+ varieties of fruit trees within a sustainable solar-powered and rainwater-purified environment.

Product overview

Kirpal Meditation and Ecological Center (KMEC) is a spiritual retreat center located on the Big Island of Hawaii offering a portfolio of accommodations, wellness facilities, and program services. The center provides private cabin accommodations (Butterfly/DragonFly, Rollinia, Noni, Mango, Lilikoi, Cacao, Milo 1, Milo 2, Papaya, and Yoga Hale room) ranging from $96-$210 per night, along with dedicated practice spaces including a Balinese Meditation Pavilion and a 1000+ square foot Yoga Hale. KMEC offers personal retreat packages and full facility group retreat rentals with offerings in meditation, yoga, surf and yoga, and holistic nutrition. The center also provides organic food sourced from its 10-acre orchard and airport shuttle transportation services. The entire facility operates on solar power and rainwater catchment systems, integrating ecological sustainability with spiritual practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30 overnight guests accommodated on property, with additional B&B overflow support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Phenomena (EBB Somatic Collective) — Malia Wright & Kendra AdlercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026EBB Somatic Collective, led by Malia Wright and Kendra Adler, hosts the 'Phenomena' embodiment retreat at KMEC from March 4–10, 2026. The 7-day, 6-night somatic exploration retreat includes 3 daily vegetarian meals and is promoted as a full immersion experience with volcano, ocean, and sand. Malia Wright and Kendra Adler serve as co-facilitators, bringing their own student base to KMEC.
• Motive Yoga Co. — Dr. Kellie Moore, ND; Beatriz Lloret, MA & LPC; Bree Dillon, E-RYTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2026Motive Yoga Co., led by Dr. Kellie Moore, ND (naturopathic doctor), Beatriz Lloret, MA & LPC (psychologist), and Bree Dillon, E-RYT (yoga teacher), hosts the 'Unrivaled Renewal' 8-day Women's Health & Wellbeing Retreat at KMEC from February 21–28, 2026. The women-exclusive retreat uses evidence-based curriculum combining mindful movement, experiential workshops, restorative rituals, and wholesome nutrition.
• SOULMATIC Sanctuary — Sydney Campos & Collin DavidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 December 2024Sydney Campos and Collin David co-facilitated the 'SOULMATIC Sanctuary' retreat at KMEC from December 27, 2024 to January 5, 2025. The 10-day, 9-night transformational retreat focused on intuitive development and multidimensional exploration through rituals, sacred site activations, and daily practices.
• Shaktipat Hawaii — Swami Steven S. SadleircoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Swami Steven S. Sadleir of Shaktipat Hawaii conducted a week-long 'Higher Consciousness Meditation Retreat' at KMEC from September 1–7, 2024. The immersion included Kriya Yoga, Kundalini Meditation, Shaktipat, Darshan, Satsang, healing sessions, nature walks, dancing, and music. Sadleir is a yoga teacher and retreat leader who brings his own following to the center.
• Reconnect & Restore — Alix Northup & Meghan BursiekminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2024Alix Northup and Meghan Bursiek hosted a 'Reconnect & Restore' retreat at KMEC from February 24 to March 2, 2024, as wellness practitioners facilitating a structured retreat program.
• Hele-On County Bus (County of Hawai'i)minorOthersLimited public transportation via the Hele-On county bus operates from downtown Hilo to Pahoa. KMEC offers to pick up guests from Pahoa for a smaller cost if schedules can be coordinated, providing a low-cost alternative for travelers without rental cars.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: A large established yoga and wellness retreat center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, offering residential retreats, RYT training, and holistic programs. Comparable to KMEC in yoga/meditation retreat offerings but at significantly larger scale and broader programming portfolio.
• Spirit Rock Meditation Center: A dedicated Vipassana meditation retreat center in Northern California offering multi-day silent and facilitated meditation retreats. Comparable to KMEC's meditation retreat focus, though primarily non-residential in attire and tradition-specific.
• Esalen Institute: Iconic Big Sur, California retreat center offering workshops, meditation, yoga, and personal retreats on a coastal property. Comparable as a spiritual/wellness retreat destination with overnight accommodations and a heritage positioning, though at materially larger scale.
• Omega Institute for Holistic Studies: A long-standing holistic education and retreat center in Rhinebeck, New York hosting hundreds of workshops annually on wellness, meditation, and spiritual practice. Comparable in retreat/workshop model and meditation/yoga programming, but at much larger institutional scale.

Direct peers

• Lumeria Maui: A wellness retreat estate on Maui offering yoga, meditation, and spa programs with overnight accommodations. Directly comparable to KMEC as a Hawaii-based, accommodation-led retreat center offering scheduled wellness programming.
• Kalani Honua: A retreat and education center on Hawaii's Big Island (Puna district, near KMEC) offering yoga, meditation, and wellness programs with overnight accommodations and cultural immersion. Directly comparable as a Big Island retreat venue with shared spiritual/wellness programming and accommodation-led revenue model.
• Hawaii Yoga Institute: Yoga teacher training and retreat provider on the Big Island of Hawaii, hosting multi-day yoga immersions and facilitator-led programs. Comparable to KMEC's group retreat rental model and yoga-led programming.

Emerging players

• Bali Silent Retreat: A nature-immersive meditation retreat in Bali offering silent meditation, yoga, and digital detox programs. Comparable to KMEC's holistic, off-grid, multi-day immersive retreat concept, though catering to an international traveler base.

Regional players

• Maui Retreats / Mana Meditation Retreats: Boutique meditation and yoga retreat providers on Maui offering group retreat packages with full-facility rentals. Comparable to KMEC as a Hawaii-based retreat host serving facilitator-led group retreats, though operating on a different island.
• Yoga Retreats Hawaii (Hawaii Retreats Co.): A retreat/yoga booking platform and operator connecting facilitators with Hawaii-based retreat venues. Comparable as a Hawaii retreat mediator and competitor for facilitator relationships, though KMEC owns its own property rather than broker third-party venues.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kmechawaii
• Facebookfacebook.com/KirpalHawaiiRetreat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kirpal-meditation-and-ecological-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kirpal Meditation & Ecological Center