After 20 years touring the world as professional dancers and patrons of the arts, Richard Koob and his longtime companion, Earnest Morgan, decided to forgo their hectic lifestyle and settle in rural Puna, along the southeast coast of Hawaii island.

There they envisioned establishing a retreat where visitors could come to embrace nature and rejuvenate body, mind and spirit through hula, yoga, dance, tai chi, massage, meditation, martial arts and more.

Tours would take guests to tide pools, freshwater lakes, geothermal ponds, lava tubes, volcanic craters, green- and black-sand beaches and other scenic wonders.

Meals would revolve around local ingredients, including fish caught right offshore and produce grown on-site in organic gardens and orchards.

Like the ancient Hawaiian ahupuaa (land divisions extending from the mountains to the sea), their oasis would be a model of conservation and sustainability.

In 1975 Koob and Morgan realized their dream on 19 lush coastal acres in Puna. With the help of friends, they slashed their way through thick jungle with machetes to clear land for Kalani Oceanside Retreat.

After Morgan died in 1992, Koob, Kalani’s director, maintained a hands-on role in the development of the property. He walks the grounds every day, thrilled to see how their dream has flourished.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Kalani now extends over 120 acres, with accommodations ranging from campgrounds to cottages with spectacular ocean views and original art. Facilities include a 25-meter pool; heated saltwater pool; a sauna; Jacuzzis; volleyball courts; massage rooms; a sweat lodge constructed from lava rock; and yoga, dance, music and martial arts studios.

Among Kalani’s archaeological treasures are portions of a trail dating back more than 500 years and a heiau (temple) dedicated to Lono and Kanaloa, the Hawaiian gods of agriculture and aquaculture.

"At Kalani we celebrate nature, wellness and Hawaiian culture," Koob said. "We’re guided by the tradition of ohana (family), and ‘green’ describes our incredible setting as well as our philosophy."

The retreat hosts more than 100 workshops and special events throughout the year, all designed to promote total health and, as its mission statement says, "to encourage aloha, love for life, in each person’s own deepest way." Koob believes the inaugural Puna Chefs’ and Farmers’ Culinary Festival is a notable addition.

"Good food nourishes the mind and soul as well as the body," he said. "Since Kalani was established 36 years ago, our chefs have created more than 2 million delicious, wholesome meals. Throughout that time, and certainly before it was fashionable, our focus has been on fresh, organic, locally grown ingredients. A culinary festival showcasing Puna’s bounty enhances our vision for Kalani."

During the weeklong event, attendees can participate in culinary classes; farm, garden and market tours; and dinners featuring ingredients grown in Puna. The final dinner, titled "The Last Supper," will be a savory "slow food" feast coupled with a murder mystery.

After preparing the meal, Chef Stewart Blackburn will be "murdered," sparking a spirited quest to find out whodunit. Suspects will interact with guests throughout the dinner, leaving an array of clues — some intended to divert the room full of detectives. The names of those who solve the case will be put in a drawing for a Kalani pool/spa pass for a month and a complimentary wellness treatment.

"At the Puna Chefs’ and Farmers’ Culinary Festival, people will have fun while increasing their knowledge and understanding of culinary trends and how food in our special corner of Hawaii is grown and prepared," Koob said. "We hope they’ll come to appreciate the delicate balance in our food system, and the wisdom of living simply and humbly — conserving resources, so the needs of future generations can be met. We believe sustainable agriculture and green practices are the ways to build happy, healthy communities not only in our islands, but throughout the world."

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won many Society of American Travel Writers awards.