PAIA, Maui » When members of Deepak Chopra’s Center for Wellbeing needed a quiet spot for their meditations, they headed for Lumeria Maui, one of the newest hot spots for travelers who feel the need to chill out.
Xorin Balbes’ architectural work has won him a place in the pages of Architectural Digest and Metropolitan Home. In 2009 the Los Angeles architect was casting about for a personal project, and a classified ad brought him to Maui, where the Fred C. Baldwin Memorial Home was up for sale.
Situated on about six acres, with a quartet of dormitory buildings arranged in a courtyard setting above Paia town, it seemed like a steal for the asking price of $1.25 million. Right away the spiritual designer, who’s often told he looks like Gandhi, saw its potential as a retreat for yoga enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers and health buffs. He put in an offer, but it was rejected in favor of a local buyer. He went home and thought that was that.
Call it karma, but months later the deal had fallen through, so the property was his if he still wanted it. It would take a lot of work and money to bring Lumeria to life, but Balbes said he was up to the challenge. He was already known as a restorer of historic homes, including the Frank Lloyd Wright 1926 Sowden House and the Talmadge Villa, former home of 1920s screen legend Norma Talmadge. The Los Feliz, Calif., residence was a replica of a 17th-century Italian villa.
"I’m really attracted to architecture that’s significant and powerful. History is told so beautifully in architecture," Balbes said. "Space in and of itself can be an uplifting and healing thing, so my design world and my spiritual path came together in this project."
Through his involvement in meditation, health and wellness, Balbes carries on a mission set by Henry Perrine Baldwin, co-founder of Alexander & Baldwin, one of the "Big Five" corporations that dominated the Territory of Hawaii. In 1909, Baldwin and his wife, Emily, started work on the Fred C. Baldwin Memorial Home in honor of their son, who had died five years earlier at the age of 24 while undergoing surgery for appendicitis.
The house was intended to house retired sugar industry executives "and went through a few incarnations," Balbes explained. After World War II it became a convalescent home for war veterans. It later housed students from Maunaolu Seminary before being sold to Maui Land & Pineapple for sugar workers.
"By the time we got it, it was ready to be bulldozed," Balbes said. "The columns were all destroyed through termites and dry rot. Seventy percent of the exterior wood had to be replaced. There were no sidewalks and only one tree. The rest was all dirt."
Even so, Balbes could sense life in the buildings, and the timing was right. The economic downturn set him on a path toward a deeper purpose in life, and by that time he had already found that "yoga and meditation completely changed my life."
The two activities do not change anyone’s circumstances, but in difficult times, he said, "they keep your mind clearer so you can make better choices that are not coming from a place of fear."
Today, Lumeria is billed as an "EdVenture" retreat that combines education and adventure, including daily yoga and meditation classes in a lush setting with organic gardens that fill the pantry of the property’s restaurant.
Although Lumeria has been open only since late March, the property has already welcomed a yoga group from Lululemon Athletica, meditation group from the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, and sports adventurers from OluKai Premium Footwear.
"When I first came here, I didn’t really understand about the ‘coconut wireless,’ but it really works. The word of mouth is getting out there, and we’re getting a lot of bookings, mostly from California, Seattle and Canada."
The 25-room property has accommodations for visitors, but "it’s different from a hotel," Balbes said. "To stay here you have to be enrolled in some kind of class."
In addition to yoga and meditation, massage sessions that utilize Hawaiian lomilomi, hot stone, Swedish, deep-tissue and Thai techniques are available.
With Paia’s renown as the windsurfing capital of the world, private or semi-private lessons are available at $120 for a two-hour session. Other classes available include stand-up paddling; kite surfing; kayak, bike, zip-line or snorkel tours; horseback riding; ocean cruises; and deep-sea fishing.
Those who dine on the property enjoy simple, healthy meals such as grilled free-range chicken with tomato salsa fresca, chilled quinoa salad with walnuts and parsley or roasted corn soup with cilantro coulis.
"So often, people come to Hawaii and when they stay in a hotel, they’re experiencing that brand, and not necessarily connecting to the culture. I want them to have a deeper experience that allows them to appreciate not only Maui’s beauty, but also soothing and healing things," Balbes said. "We’re still in the process of unfolding, but it’s coming along nicely.
"It’s nice to be connecting people to a more healthy lifestyle."
Lumeria Maui is at 1813 Baldwin Ave., between Paia and Makawao. Visit lumeriamaui.com.
