We can pick you up at the Hilo airport for $45; the Kona airport pick-up is $160.

Yes but it is as cheap (after you add the higher pickup cost) and more convenient to fly into Hilo. Unless you are planning to spend time on the west side of the island, the cost savings of flying into Kona instead of Hilo will generally be offset by the increased pick-up fees and inconvenience.

The best way to participate in the Raja Yoga Internship Program with work trade, is to have one parent participate in the work trade hours or to split the hours between the two parents. Doing the program without work trade is also available and there are opportunities for families to upgrade from a tent to cabins or indoor spaces if needed.

All deposits for guests or interns are $100. You can get a refund if you cancel your reservation 72 hours before your arrival date.

Our peak season is December 15th through January 6th. Please add an additional 30% to your rate for dates between 12/15 and 1/7.

NO. Polestar Gardens is an alcohol and recreational-drug free community. If you are participating in a program here we ask that you abstain from alcohol or drug use on or off the property during your entire stay.

This is non-negotiable. If you are unable to respect this policy you will be asked to leave.

We provide a covered tent with a twin bed and all of its bedding. The tent is 10 feet x 10 feet and is quite comfortable. A picture of the tent can be found on our website on our ACCOMMODATIONS page.

The weather is very unpredictable here with significant dry or wet spells any time of year. Generally speaking though, rainy season can be anytime between November and March! It never lasts very long but it’s nice to have some clothes you can wear in the rain anytime of year.

We supply yoga mats, meditation pillows and kneeling benches in the temple.

Our emphasis is on “Raja” Yoga, the ancient science of self-realization as taught by Paramhansa Yogananda, which includes daily meditation as our core practice. We also have a beautiful space for postures and host guided Hatha yoga practice 2 times per week.  (For those who rise early before Sadhana, we also have a brief daily Hatha session). Also, our temple is open many hours each day for personal practice.

We try as best we can to accommodate the variety of diets that come through the Polestar kitchen. Being on an Island we have learned to cope with the availability of produce and trimmings when they are available. The cost of food is much more expensive here, as you can imagine, so we are as resourceful as we can be from our garden. With all this said, the majority of food that comes out of the kitchen is a lacto-vegetarian diet, with vegan options for guests who make that request. In any case, if you find that you need to supplement your diet with additional items from a local health food store, we do have a spare fridge so you can label your own private stock of goodies.

What exactly do we eat at Polestar?

Here is what a typical day looks like:

BREAKFAST:
Hot grain (most often oats but sometimes polenta or amaranth)
with all the fixings – nuts, raisins, honey, etc.
Yogurt
Fresh fruit (papaya, banana, lilikoi, soursop from the land)
Sometimes eggs + potatoes + toast

LUNCH: (Best meal of the day in our opinion!)
Lentils or beans
Roasted or sauteed veggies from the land
Grain (rice, quinoa, etc.)
Salad w/ avocado, sprouts, dressing
Coco kimchee or Coco-kraut (our specialties)

DINNER:
Can be as simple as soup
Sometimes it’s a casserole and half is left without dairy
Most Friday’s we make our own sushi veggie rolls, sometimes pizza!

The first step is to come for a visit either as a guest or an intern. We need to spend some time together to see if this is a fit for both you and the community. If you spend a month then all of your questions about an extended stay can be answered during your time here.