{"id":611126,"date":"2026-04-28T11:28:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:28:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/611126\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T11:28:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:28:21","slug":"business-monday-new-production-company-to-host-koa-wahine-retreat-in-hilo-big-island-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/611126\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Monday: New production company to host Koa W\u0101hine retreat in Hilo : Big Island Now"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n\"\"<\/a>Kumu Lua Michelle Manu<\/p>\n

While in lockdown in Oregon in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Native Hawaiian Ke\u2018ala Hill created a vision board with images of Hawai\u2018i, including one of Kumu Lua Michelle Manu.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had an old Hawaiian Airlines magazine with Kumu Manu in there,\u201d said Hill, who was born and raised in Kane\u2018ohe, O\u2018ahu. \u201cI didn\u2019t know who she was, but there she is in all her glorious warrior poses.<\/p>\n

It sparked a desire for Hill, who had been living on the West Coast for more than 20 years, to be grounded in her Hawaiian roots \u2014\u00a0and to meet Manu, the first and only Woman Knight Commander (Dame) in the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, a 10th-degree Black Belt, \u2018Alihikaua (General), and Kumu Po\u2018okela in the indigenous Hawaiian warrior art of Lua (Kaihewalu and Manu lineages).<\/p>\n

Four years ago, Hill moved to the Big Island, where she visited family growing up. She met Manu by purchasing tickets for herself and her daughter to attend a martial arts class the kumu lua was teaching at Hulihe\u2018e Palace in Kona.<\/p>\n

At the class, Hill showed Manu her vision board and they took a selfie together after the class.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Kumu Lua Michelle Manu (left) with Ke\u2018ala Hill. (Photo courtesy: Ke\u2018ala Hill)<\/p>\n

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD<\/p>\n

That meeting led to Hill and Manu, both 51, teaming up to form Koa W\u0101hine Productions, a company with the vision to create transformational experiences, media, education and community initiatives that uplift and empower women now and for future generations.<\/p>\n

Hill, who has a master\u2019s degree in marketing from Florida-based Full Sail University, is behind the marketing of Manu\u2019s vision to bring Hawaiian cultural practitioners together to share their expertise in supporting Hawaiian women through understanding their health, feminine gifts and identity.<\/p>\n

Koa W\u0101hine Productions will host its first event, the Koa W\u0101hine Retreat, May 21-24 at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo, where participants can \u201crise to their inner koa (warrior) and reclaim personal sovereignty through Hawaiian ancestral practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hill has owned several businesses in the past where she has consulted with companies to promote events, including Hollywood films like \u201cSex and the City.\u201d Hill said she put together a fashion show for the movie\u2019s opening.<\/p>\n

This is the first time Hill has promoted a retreat.<\/p>\n

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD<\/p>\n

Koa W\u0101hine Productions is different from other businesses Hill has run in the past, \u201cbecause it\u2019s heart-based work.\u201d<\/p>\n

As of now, Hill and Manu are the two driving forces behind the production company using their experistise to bring this platform to life. The women have been hosting live Instagram stories over the past few weeks to promote the upcoming retreat.<\/p>\n

In describing a w\u0101hine (woman) lua warrior of old, Manu said they weren\u2019t necessarily out on the battlefield.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were used surreptitiously,\u201d she explained. \u201cThey were open but not obvious. They were entering spaces that the k\u0101ne (men) weren\u2019t necessarily able to get into.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking at a modern-day w\u0101hine lua warrior, Manu said women similarly have to blend to maneuver in a system that isn\u2019t always working for them.<\/p>\n

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD<\/p>\n

Manu\u2019s hope with the retreat and future events is to bolster women in their Hawaiian identities and help the next generation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a ripple effect,\u201d she said. \u201cWe affect one another greatly when we create an alternate community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hill said: \u201cOur intention is to inspire women and young girls throughout Hawai\u02bbi and across the diaspora to reconnect with their inner strength, personal sovereignty, and what we call the Koa W\u0101hine (woman warrior) way of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hill said the goal of their work at the retreat, as well as in the production company, is to create a space for ancestral wisdom that often remains unseen or undiscussed to be thoughtfully shared and applied in modern life.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough the guidance of our kumu founder and other contributing kumu of various sacred traditions, these teachings help people understand identity, responsibility, sacred balance, and the deeper roles w\u0101hine have always held in society,\u201d Hill said. \u201cMuch is often said about women as nurturers, which is true and valuable. \u201cKoa W\u0101hine also highlights the traditional role of w\u0101hine as protectors, leaders, strategists, and carriers of mana.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy restoring that understanding, we believe this work can contribute to healing, empowerment, and stronger communities for our l\u0101hui and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also presenting at the retreat will be Kumu Kekuhi Keali\u02bbikanaka\u02bbole, who is founder of H\u0101lau \u02bb\u014chi\u02bba, a former kumu hula of H\u0101lau o Kekuhi, and an award-winning chanter and educator. She is a cultural leader dedicated to \u02bboli as living technology. She also bridges ancestral wisdom, ritual, chant and conscious leadership for kinship, conservation and education.<\/p>\n

Future projects from the production company include video and storytelling content, live events, educational gatherings, and collaborative programs designed to celebrate and share \u02bbike rooted in K\u0101naka \u2018Oiwi matters.<\/p>\n

The Hawai\u2018i Tourism Authority website<\/a> highlights visiting the state as a \u201ctonic for the mind, body and soul.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tourism authority states there are numerous yoga and wellness retreats throughout the islands as well as opportunities to learn traditional Hawaiian arts, such as hula\u00a0and\u00a0lei-making, from a cultural practitioner.<\/p>\n

A few on Hawai\u2018i Island<\/a> include the\u00a0Hawai\u2018i Island Retreat<\/a> in North Kohala, which offers yoga, self-awareness programs, life coaching, and more.<\/p>\n

K\u016baloli Retreats in P\u0101hoa offers individual and group retreats, and includes nature-based healing modalities in which people can \u201cheal, remember and reconnect with their passion and creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Kumu Kekuhi Keali\u02bbikanaka\u02bbole<\/p>\n

\u201cSovereignty means belonging fully to yourself \u2014 your body, energy and choices,\u201d Manu said. \u201cNo more shrinking or surrendering your power. A Koa Wahine stands as protector of what is sacred in her life, knowing her worth and guarding it with courage. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn this container, you will reclaim yourself and learn to protect what you reclaim. Remember who you are. Protect what matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attendees of the retreat will learn lua (Hawaiian warrior arts), lualomi (warrior massage), \u02bboli as embodied relation technology, voice work, pule (prayer), movement, stillness and practical tools for mana manipulation, nervous system health and feminine law.<\/p>\n

Participants also will explore warrior sovereignty as both weapon and field, connection with elemental spirits, and integration of combat, healing and relational practices \u2013 all held with strict protocols and cultural integrity.<\/p>\n

The Koa W\u0101hine Retreat is intentionally exclusive and application-only, welcoming Kanaka Maoli, kama\u02bb\u0101ina, and women who deeply respect and embrace Hawaiian culture.<\/p>\n

Girls ages 12\u201317 may attend with a legal guardian.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a powerful commitment to your sovereignty and your future self \u2014 especially amid the chaos of modern life,\u201d Manu said. \u201cThe k\u0101hea (call) has been issued for w\u0101hine ready to move beyond surface-level wellness and rise to the warrior within.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to request an invitation to the retreat or email koa.wahine.retreats@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Kumu Lua Michelle Manu While in lockdown in Oregon in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Native Hawaiian Ke\u2018ala…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":611127,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[53602,192,193524,265411,265412,265413,265414,265415,265416,265417,71336,265418,79],"class_list":["post-611126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-business-monday","tag-environment","tag-hawaii-tourism-authority","tag-keala-hill","tag-koa-wahine","tag-koa-wahine-productions","tag-kumu-kekuhi-kealiikanakaole","tag-kumu-lua-michelle-manu","tag-lahui","tag-lua","tag-martial-arts","tag-michelle-manu","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/611126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=611126"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/611126\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/611127"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=611126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=611126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=611126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}