I recently graduated from Hawaii Island Recovery and feel great. I am sober and thanks to the staff and support from HIR have no fear of relapse. The accommodations were very comfortable. The chef was fabulous and nutritious. Everything from the the therapy to the acupuncture and everything in-between was amazing and professional. The program really works. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction I strongly recommend going to Hawaii Island Recovery. Thank you HIR...
HIR was exactly what I needed! I was at an absolute low point in my life and this place completely turned things around. The staff was extremely friendly and caring, some have years of recovery themselves so they’re also very easy to relate to. The meetings they took us to were extremely helpful and even fun! Delicious home cooked meals are prepared everyday by a wonderful Chef, yum. I stayed 30 days but wish I could have stayed the full 90. I still go back on alumni days and Big Book Studies to stay in touch with everyone there, I love HIR!
I did 60 days at the residential program and it genuinely changed my life. This wasn’t my first time in rehab I’d been to two other facilities on the mainland that didn’t stick. What was different here is that they built my treatment plan around me specifically, not a one-size-fits-all schedule. The therapists actually listened. The staff-to-client ratio is small so you’re not just a number. Frank and Fernando were incredible to work with during individual and group sessions. Being on the Big Island away from my usual environment and triggers gave me space to actually focus. I’ve been sober since completing the program and I credit this place for that.
On the fifth of September in 2019, I was picked up at Kona Airport by two people who would become and part of my recovery team. I was overweight, overwhelmed, malnourished, dehydrated, and detoxing. I was vetted to assure my openess and willingness before I was lucky enough to be be accepted into the facility. I stopped digging and reached my bottom and Hawaiian Island Recovery helped me find my own path to true recovery and not just the cessation of drugs and alcohol. It was an uncomfortable path that was eased by the feeling of security, acceptance, understanding, and kindness provided by medical and clinical staff, many whom had the shared experience of recovering from mental health issues and/or addiction. Being that I had a dual diagnosis, I felt comfort, and truly understood while being given the compassion and empathy only people of that background can provide. I participated in all the different types of therapy provided. I was all in and fully committed. I built a strong foundation in sobriety with the tools I learned and the integration into the local sober community through A.A. and other activities that brought us patients into the world through visiting spiritual places, swimming with dolphins, and visiting other cultural sites. My care was managed very well and holistic. My nutritional needs were met with great food, my safety was never in question, my mental health was addressed through many modes of treatment, therapy, meditations, and education. I gave everything I had into their core philosophy of addiction treatment and participated with no expectation of a great outcome. I sit here writing this long overdue review with over five years of sobriety. I continue to improve as a person by evolving and adding to the tools they provided me for navigating live with Mental Illnesses and Substance Use Disorder. I would be dead without Jimmy and the team around him. They inspired hope by being examples of loving and caring individuals who maintained their own recovery while giving their best efforts in the work of helping the world one person at a time. I now have a wife and daughter along with another new purpose I found in life by working with others. I celebrate and honor the efforts and contributions by H.I.R. to my recovery by giving my best effort in living a meaningful life of love, service, and gratitude. I continue to evolve into the person I always used to admire. I have gained a life and reclaimed passion. It all started in Kona with seven other patients and a dedicated team of great human beings. Remember, you get back what you put into it. I believe they have a great flexible, evidence based plan of treatment in a beautiful facility that can suit anyone on their journey of recovery. I will forever be grateful. Take Care and Give Love.
M.G.B.
Hawaii Island Recovery offers truly life‑changing care in a truly healing environment. The combination of professional, evidence‑based treatment and the peaceful Kona setting helped me feel safe, supported, and hopeful again.
The staff here genuinely care and take time to understand you as a whole person, not just a diagnosis or addiction. All of the staff treated me with respect, compassion, and honesty, which made it easier to do the deep work I needed.
I also appreciated the small number of clients and individualized attention. The groups, one‑on‑one sessions, and holistic therapies created a balanced experience where I could work on my mind, body, and spirit at the same time.
The nature‑based and ocean‑based activities were a huge part of my healing. Time in the water, time in nature, and connection to Hawaiian culture helped me reconnect with myself and remember what it feels like to really live, not just survive.
Hawaii Island Recovery is an incredible choice if you're looking for a great facility to recover in. I’m deeply grateful for my time there and the foundation it gave me for long‑term recovery.
