HOME | PELE'S FIRE WRITING RETREAT

"Pele’s Fire healed me in ways I didn’t know I needed healing and pushed my writing in ways I didn’t know I needed to be pushed." - Grace Burns

Leave behind a world of distractions for a week devoted to your own writing in an ecologically-conscious setting at Pele’s Fire—a writers’ retreat held in a secluded jungle on the Big Island of Hawaii. Now in its third year.

What makes our all-inclusive writing retreat unique? You can have it all: your own quiet writing time; small-group workshops with both of our teachers; generative inspiration and exercises; guided conversations on a variety of writing-related topics; a one-on-one conference for manuscript feedback; evening readings and celebrations; and optional free time to explore the island. Volcano National Park, Lava Tree Forest, Kaimu black sand beach and volcanically-heated warm pools are all near by. We will be integrating our our surroundings into our writing.

The home-base for the Pele’s Fire writing retreat is Kalani—a nonprofit educational retreat center and eco-community that honors Hawaii's heritage, and a living model for implementing best practices in permaculture, sustainability, and community development. Your registration fee includes six nights in a beautiful, spacious cottage (double occupancy), and all meals. Kalani also has a full schedule of yoga and movement classes you can attend, and many different wellness and healing offerings, including massage, reiki, etc. for additional fees. A pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and 120 acres of seaside rain forest beauty await.

Write and move. Retreat and explore. Find quiet and community. Generate new work and get feedback on your manuscript. Work in groups and one-on-one. Work with both of our teachers.

Join us.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR SPRING 2018. APPLICATION DEADLINE DECEMBER 4, 2017.

Follow us on instagram: @pelesfireretreat

Pele’s Fire cradles you in everything you ever wanted as a writer; fabulous food, workshops that renew your passion, invested instructors, kindred writers, amazing conversations, movement that allows you to be present in your body, and… Read More

Grace

I went to Pele’s Fire with a manuscript that needed shaping. Through a multi-layered approach – workshops on structure, form, language, mapping, and generation– coupled with NIA classes that allowed me to integrate what I was learning into my… Read More

Sarah

Upon the completion of Pele’s Fire writer’s retreat on the Island of Hawaii, our group hiked to Kaimu beach in Kalapana, the youngest beach in the Hawaiian Islands where I found a small cave where I could sit… Read More

Catherine

Shedding my skin. That is the best way for me to describe my experience at Pele’s Fire: Write to the Core. I was held by the land and the community in such a deep way that the intentions I… Read More

Heather

I arrived at Pele’s Fire with the first full draft of a manuscript in much need of tightening. I entered the space unsure of where to begin–completely overwhelmed by the hundreds of pages, thousands of words. I… Read More

Loba Wakinyan Azul

Thank you so much again! The week was everything I had hoped for. The way the jungle broke down all the shoulds, musts and scheduling rigor that usually comes with organized retreats – and the way the teachers went… Read More

Cathy

This retreat was unbelievable. Beyond my expectations. From the other writers there to the three leaders, to Kalani, to the different activities we did, to the dancing. It was perfect. I would definitely do it again and recommend it… Read More

Chelsea

I’ve been accompanied by such a glow of gratitude for the gift of this week — the place and time and program and feedback and support — impossible to name all you gave us (even that great little… Read More

Catharine

Reiko, I have so much gratitude for you and for giving me the opportunity to go to Pele’s Fire. I’m now, finally, able to create time to settle in to what you, Bhanu, and Elena taught me… Read More

Susan

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Watch this space for thoughts and news

12 Dec 2016

Art As Activism

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This interview was originally published on the Women Authoring Change blog for Hedgebrook, an amazing retreat for women writers. In their own words, “Our mission is to support visionary women writers whose stories shape our culture now and for generations to come. Our core purpose is equality for women’s... Read More

1 Dec 2016

On the Art of Waiting for Writing

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Recently, Beth Kephart asked me to talk about my writing process and rituals, and writer’s block. She shared my answers in her Junctures newsletter. Reading over them now, I find myself wishing to be in that other country: writing. To capture what is coming through in the dark. And... Read More

16 Nov 2016

Pele’s Fire. Join Us.

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Now more than ever, we need creative community, safe spaces. We need to raise our voices. Enjoy this video slide show of our 2016 experience. Join us in March 2017. Read More

16 Nov 2016

Dear Writers

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(This letter was first published on The Writer in the World, a blog for the MFA in Creative Writing community at Goddard College, which is directed by Elena Georgiou, and shared here with her permission.) Dear Writers, I’m guessing that, for the majority of you, your first desire to... Read More

February 28th to March 6th, 2018

"Pele’s Fire healed me in ways I didn’t know I needed healing and pushed my writing in ways I didn’t know I needed to be pushed." - Grace Burns

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR SPRING 2018. APPLICATION DEADLINE DECEMBER 4, 2017.

Follow us on instagram: @pelesfireretreat

Elena

Reiko

Want To Know What Happens At Our Writing Retreat?