Complaint Review: KOKOLULU FARM & CANCER RETREATS. - Hawi Hawaii

I believe that when someone posts on a site like this they should fully disclose who they are and what company/or interest they represent. ‘Anonymous’ is weak, not owning up to ones thoughts and opinions.  

My name is Lew Whitney. Karin Cooke RN and I cofounded Kokolulu Farm and Cancer Retreats (also know as Kokolulu Farm and Retreats in Hawaii , Kokolulu Farm and Wellness Center, Kokolulu Farm and Retreats - Medicine-less Healing, and the home of HIQI - the Hawaii International Qigong Institute). We have been going to China (studying and teaching) for over 27 years. We are located in Hawi, on Hawaii Island (AKA The Big Island).

Kokolulu Farm and Cancer Retreats in Hawaii is a safe, healing, nurturing space where those affected by chronic illness (like cancer) are able to access a deeper healing process, while nurturing body, mind, and spirit through scientifically proven integrative techniques. An on-site organic farm provides the retreat with healthy food and medicinal herbs to further boost the immune system and enhance the healing process. Since 2003 we have provided both a residential program (with people attending from throughout the world) and a local outreach program for residents of Hawaii. People have come here with no hope or support often with a stage 4 diagnosis. Many people have been able to improve their health, and a significant number healed themselves of their chronic illness (like cancer). In 2006, we became a fiscally  sponsored non-profit organization. In 2010 we became a 501 c3 public charity non profit organization by the US federal government. Kokolulu’s EIN number is 01-0954321.   

We teach people that they have a role and responsibility in their own healing process and share tools with them to that end.

Both Karin Cooke and myself are volunteers. Kokolulu has no paid staff. Any funds received by Kokolulu goes directly into the daily operation of the organization.

Please check out some of the many articles/sources:

Healing Cancer in a Holistic Environment: An Interview With Karin Whitney Cooke, RN: https://todayspractitioner.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/healing-cancer-holistic-environment-IMCJ_11_5_Cooke_50_58.pdf

COPING WITH CANCER: A JOURNEY AND A PLACE TO CHILL AT KOKOLULU - Keola Magazine: https://keolamagazine.com/nonprofit/kokolulu/

GuideStar - GuideStar is the most complete source of information about U.S. charities and other nonprofit organizations there is. It certifies non-profits as legitimate. Please click on Kokolulu Farm and Cancer Retreats: https://www.guidestar.org/NonprofitDirectory.aspx?cat=4&subcat=20&p=100

History of Kokolulu with Testimonials, Research based programs and HiQi (Hawaii international QiGong Institute)

Cure Magazine:  https://www.curetoday.com/view/kokolulu-cancer-retreat-center-on-the-big-island-of-hawaii

Whole Life Magazine

https://www.wholife.com/issues/16_1/06_article.html

My Escape to an Island: https://co-op.antiochcollege.edu/my-escape-to-an-island/

Here is a short video of Kathryn (who attended a retreat here and has been cancer free for over 6 years). She is married and has two beautiful children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmaHEuT5erE

Tatianna’s experience as an intern at Kokolulu

Google reviews:

https://www.google.com/search?q=google+reviews+kokolulu+farm+and+cancer+retreats&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS561US562&oq=google+reviews&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j69i59j0i433i512j0i512l2j46i175i199i512j0i512l2j0i433i512j0i512.11013j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

The ‘Gift of Giving’ - Huffington Post: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-gift-of-giving_b_1159727

Richard s Recovery From Ocular Malignant Melanoma - Lao Hu Long Health: https://www.laohulonghealth.com/richard-s-recovery-from-ocular-malignant-melanoma.html

*****Kokolulu has an intern program. The internship is primarily working on the farm (The Hawaiians say Malama da Aina - Take of the land and you learn to heal yourself) but we also teach the interns the healing techniques that we use in our wellness program. Karin Cooke RN (our medical director) has 50 years experience in both allopathic and integrative medicine and helps the interns to better understand the role their wellness plays in helping others.

For more information please visit our web site:

https://www.cancer-retreats.org

We look forward to hearing from you.

Aloha and Peace

Lew and Karin

It's against my policy to respond to trolls' attacks. However,  I'll make an exception on this occasion while still being mindful of the wise warning to "Never argue with a fool; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with their experience." Mark Twain's insightful words, “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference” conveys very much the same message. For the purpose of this post, the word 'fool' may be replaced with 'troll' with equal validity.

It's obvious that trying to open Jim's mind, accept the facts of the situation, and remind him of the meaning of the word 'decency' would be as futile as trying to square the circle. So I won't waste my time.   Conversation closed. Period. Go and find another target for your nefarious trolling activities, Jim. ..... And may God have mercy on you!

The website states that Kokolulu's retreats will "meet your healing needs". Are we to believe that it is a statement based on hard evidence? Or is it merely a frivolous, make-believe statement, a pie-in-the-sky fantasy?  Neither.  Nowhere in the statement you provided is the place offering you a cure.  Why?  Because they can't provide a cure.  There is no intention of providing a cure.  No one can provide or guarantee a cure for cancer anywhere. 

Per your narrative, they are offering healing needs, which will be different for each individual person.  Places like this treat the soul, not the body.  A person with Stage 4 cancer may wish to receive Reiki, Yoga, Mindfullness Training, or other non-medical treatment for their cancer because they wish to have their soul cleansed.  Why?  Because they're dying. 

When you're dying, you wish to have all of your affairs in order, including your soul.  At Stage 4, there is little to lose and if you go to a place that is setup to be a paradise, and you know you're dying, then you're there to simply reconcile what's left of your life.

And I wonder- is there at least ONE ex-cancer sufferer whose healing needs have really been met at Kokolulu, who has been genuinely and fully cured, and who can present documented evidence?  This is where your stupidity shines brightly.  Healing needs and a cure are not close to the same thing and if you really thought healing needs and a cure are the same, then you really are dumb.  With all of the latest attempts at cures, like immunotherapy, if you are looking for a cure, you will start with chemo and radiation.  It isn't a cure, and it is poison, but it is a start.

The Hawaii State Department of Health would do well to look into such preposterous, hyped-up medical claims.  WOW!!  There again with the stupidity.  You have yet to provide any evidence that they are providing a cure.  On top of it, there are no medical claims.  You even posted from their website the following:  "Kokolulu brings Qigong Masters to Hawaii who worked at the medicine-less hospital...  Since the facility is medicine-less, they cannot possibly offer a medical claim, can they?  A medical claim requires at least some administration of medicine.  Perhaps you should learn to understand the difference between a cure and healing.  Perhaps a little understanding of English would also help.  This entire operation would not even come under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health for any state or federal agency for that reason.

And as for Kokolulu Farm & Cancer Retreats being a non-profit organization: They've got to be kidding. However, let the IRS and the other relevant agencies decide this issue.  Most places like this, and there are a lot of them, are set up and structured with the IRS as charitable organizations under Section 501c3 of the IRS code.  The IRS has no problem with places like this claiming non-profit status.

If you want a cure for your cancer, then you need an oncologist to help you.  Each treatment plan is individually designed by the oncologist, because each cancer is unique.  If you are looking for a holistic cure for cancer, then be prepared to die.  It is that simple. 

If you are prepared to die, then a place like this would fit the bill to meet your healing needs, and you are holding a great deal of anger - something common with many cancer patients.  At $2900 for 3 weeks is cheaper than a hotel on any of the islands...and your anger issues can be best dealt with.

No, I am not a healer, and am not a Qigong Master.