Transformative Experiential and Cultural Programming at Hawaii Island Recovery

There is a traditional Hawaiin maxim that goes, “A’a i ka hula, waiho i ka maka’u i ka hale.” This translates to “Be daring; lose shame.” It is also what experiential and cultural programming is all about – getting out there and experiencing the world rather than merely discussing it, and there is perhaps no better place to make this happen than on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The iconic yogi and guru Mahavatar Babaji famously said, “A picture of a fire looks like a fire, but it can’t burn. Theory and practice are two different things.” This gets to the heart of experiential programming and experiential therapy. It is about doing rather than talking (though the latter is certainly a part of it).

Experiential and cultural programming is for those individuals who have lost their connection to the world around them and have thus lost the connection to themselves. It is about connecting to nature and culture in a way that goes beyond surface-level experiences; rather, it brings a whole mind-body consciousness to it. This is what holistically healing at the cellular level truly looks like

A holistic approach to recovery is also embedded in the experiential and cultural process. This includes holistic healing methods like yoga and meditation.

Yoga and meditation have been practiced for thousands of years. They initially began as sole religious or spiritual practices but have since moved into many other aspects of life, most recently, addiction and mental health recovery.

Yoga can be particularly beneficial for those looking to find meaning and balance in recovery. The iconic yogi and spiritual leader B.K.S. Iyengar famously said, “Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind, and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.”

Mindfulness is based in ancient techniques that require being fully aware of everything that is going on around you–both inside and out. It involves avoiding being on “autopilot” in your day-to-day life. Instead, you experience life as it unfolds, good and bad, without judgment or preconceptions. Then, once you are truly present, you can actively engage with peers, the community, and the sea, sand, and trees. Restoring this connection is a necessary building block in a successful recovery. Being a part of a community is vital to many sobriety paths, and it is a focal point of our program. Hawaii Island Recovery provides an array of experiential settings to support the growth of our patients. Our experiential offerings include nature-based therapy, ocean-based therapy, and learning about Hawaiian culture.

We believe that you can stop anywhere, take a deep breath, and find your center. You can connect yourself with the world around you by taking all of it in just the way it is. You can do this anywhere. There will be countless opportunities to do just that in recovery. But when the place you are recovering is Hawai’i, taking in the world is a pleasure.

We are an active part of our community. We are lucky enough to remain outside of the daily hustle–far enough to truly live again and reconnect to ourselves by connecting with the community and the planet. We know that successful sobriety doesn’t just feel good; it feels spiritual, evolving from recovery to discovery. You will begin to see the commonality in distinct spiritual practices around you, appreciate and draw strength from them. Once we have healed, we see it and feel it in the world around us. 

We love being a part of our Hawaiian community. We honor our relationship with our community, and they take part in our healing work. With Experiential Programming, we grow in our recovery with the aid of the spiritual customs of native Hawaiians. We respect their practices and humbly look to them for help with our journey. We learn the history of the island, its people, and its spiritual traditions. Our program would not be the same without these generous people. Our education continues by venturing into the vibrant island itself. We get in touch with the physical beauty of the islands that have inspired generations. Some trips are unique opportunities to learn rich Hawaiian history and see it in its majestic stonework.

Read more about Culturally Based Experiential Therapy

Like yoga and meditation, immersing oneself in nature has long been a way of finding peace, balance, and serenity. Nature-based therapy takes this long-honored truth and incorporates it with the concepts of psychotherapy.

Nature therapy also offers a myriad of other benefits. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Besides improvements to physical and psychological well-being, exposure to natural environments has been shown to bring about positive impacts on cognitive functioning… While cognitive restoration and physiological well-being are the prominent and renowned benefits of nature exposure, there is one important construct that is often overlooked in environmental psychology research studies – that is, the human-nature relationship, also known as connectedness to nature (CN).”

This “connectedness to nature” also applies to interacting with seascapes like the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean has long been held sacred by those who have lived on Hawaii’s Big Island, and we honor that sentiment at Hawaii Island Recovery by utilizing it to help our clients recover their sense of self.

Read more about Nature-Based Experiential Therapy

An understanding of the benefits of water-based activities is becoming better known. According to the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology, “One environmental context that has received less attention is water-based physical activity, with researchers suggesting that swimming and other water-based activities (e.g., kayaking, surfing) may provide superior benefits for the promotion of human well-being due to greater affordances. These activities have heightened the psychological benefits (e.g., reduced anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, increased positive affect, and increased quality of life) associated with exercise and nature therapy among U.S. war veterans.”

Of course, water-based activities on the Big Island of Hawaii are taken to another level due to the incredible amount and incredibly unique marine wildlife that resides here. This includes amazing green sea turtles, manta rays, multiple species of sharks, and untold types of tropical fish. For example, one can meditate atop a surfboard while majestic sea turtles swim all around. These types of experiences go beyond therapeutic and can even become spiritua

Whale spotting is a seasonal joy we experience. Migratory Humpback whales travel distances as far as Alaska and beyond and can be seen off Hawaii Island’s Kona Coast from November to May. Hearing their magical and haunting songs is an experience to cherish. Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles (honu) are most abundant on the Big Island. Of the seven species of sea turtles in the world, five make their home in Hawaii’s waters. All viewed while traversing colored sand beaches will leave anyone speechless. Once you’ve taken it all in, you may find the world is spinning the right way.

Many of Hawaii’s cultural traditions also offer an opportunity to bolster one’s spiritual life (or even begin to build one). This cultural programming includes getting out to the island and connecting with the people within the community who make it such an amazing and unique place to be.

There are also many cultural landmarks that can be utilized as starting points for deeper and more profound explorations during therapy. From the ocean to the mountain landscapes and forest trails, there is no shortage of beauty. Then, there are long traditions like Hoʻoponopono that can help individuals resolve both internal and external conflicts peacefully.

Please Kokua:
Many of Hawaii’s marine species are endangered, and some interactions could violate the Endangered Species Act. Hawaii Island Recovery has eminence respect for every land and marine encounter and their ecosystem. To keep wildlife and their habitat protected, we do not feed, touch or chase wildlife or disrupt their natural environments. A “no disturbance” policy is a good rule of thumb in wildlife watching, whether underwater or on land. This includes dolphins. Interacting with dolphins during their rest phase may alter their behavior. Hawaii Island Recovery does not interact with captive dolphins.

Here at Hawaii Island Recovery, we don’t just believe in putting down the drink or the drug (though, of course, this is the first step). We believe in transformational long-term success. Additionally, we also believe in being bold and daring and experiencing all that life has to offer. Remember “A’a i ka hula, waiho i ka maka’u i ka hale.”

The journey of life can be easily missed, especially while in active addiction. It’s time to look around, experience, and be present. Yes, it’s time to live the life that you have always desired and have always deserved.

Experiential and cultural programming can be ideal ways to acquire and maintain long-term recovery. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. For more information, please reach out to Hawaii Island Recovery today at (866) 390-5070.

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