Ai Pono Hawaii is a 12-bed standalone treatment center with a homelike setting in Maui, Hawaii. They offer Residential, PHP, and IOP levels of care, but unfortunately do not currently offer “transitional living.” They are in-network with most major insurances, they are also in-network with Tricare and the VA.
Any reviews? Please post in comments below! You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions. Thank you!
I want to stress to those who live in a bigger body, or who struggle with Binge Eating Disorder, this is not the best facility for you!
I’ll start there. As someone who lives in a bigger body and am always aware of how much space I take up in the world, I was glad to be going to a facility who understood my frustrations and worries. Unfortunately, after arrival, while putting my things away, I noticed that they have regular sized bath towels (not the larger bath sheets). These smaller towels don’t go around my body and add to me feeling terrible about myself. Secondly, while doing a dining outing, I was horrified to learn we would be sitting at a booth. I never choose a booth, because I never know if I’ll fit into a booth. I can’t say anything at the restaurant though, I don’t want to cause a scene.
At Ai Pono, there are two dining room tables. I only fit at one. The first time I tried scooting under the second table, my thighs hit the under hang and I spilled everyones drinks, humiliating myself.
There are also the cheap plastic outside chairs to contend with at Ai Pono. They have arms, which not everyone fits into. And they also have the flimsy plastic legs that bend pretty easily.
OK, onto food, since this is an eating Disorder facility. You are not allowed to talk about your eating disorder here, as it may trigger someone else. WHAT? (This was something therapist ***** was working on at the time of my transfer). You also better be damn patient to go to this facility because you spend over 3 hours daily sitting at the table. This makes sense for those weight restoring or with restrictive behaviors. I was there because I binge eat, but again, we cant talk about that. I was also trying to learn hunger and fullness ques, which was also very confusing because if I didn’t finish a meal because I felt full, I was given Ensure.
And since were now on the topic of being at the table, the staff sits at each end, and hurls curse words at each other while playing on their phones. I’ve seen patients sit and cry at their meal and not get support. They gossip about other staff members. It’s not a super professional environment.
The dietician was leaving in July, they had a couple intermittent folks lined up.
Please also be aware, this facility accepts children, and puts them into rooms with adult women. I am 46, and had a 16 year old child placed in my room. Neither of us were comfortable and I was told that “often our older patients can guide our younger guests”. That’s not my job. I am there because I need help of my own. I reviewed the website today and still am seeing that at its residential level of care, they accept women. Maybe that’s on me for not knowing children would be roomed with and in groups with adult women.
In regards to programming, again, 3+ hours is spent at the table. There are usually another 3 hours of programming throughout the day. This includes mindfulness, sand trays, art therapy, making friendship bracelets, ukulele lessons, etc. I personally felt like I needed eating disorder therapy at an eating disorder facility. I just needed MORE in general.
Ai Pono also has a lot of trouble respecting patients pronouns and preferred names. One of the children there needed someone to constantly advocate for them to be acknowledged as they desired.
I could go on. I won’t though. Overall, I would say this was not the right facility for me. It did not feel welcoming or safe to someone in a larger body. The therapist C**** though was PHENOMENAL, as was evening nurse M*****. Thanks to them for keeping me going.
thank you for this thorough and thoughtful review. I am so sorry about your experience. It’s inexcusable and cruel. ED treatment should be accessible to everyone and focused on each client’s needs, and yet so often it isn’t. I hope you do find the care you need and a facility that can respect you as a unique person. <3
Any recent?
Can anyone do a recent reivew?
Is ai pono ableist? Do they accept patients if they disclose an autism diagnosis? This comment section has me worried on what to share during my intake tomorrow.
hi i had my intake today and Ai Pono does take autistic individuals (according to what my intake person said)
Hello all, I completed six weeks at Ai Pono, Sept-Oct 2022.
here is my review below, I hope you find it helpful.
Ai Pono is a residential treatment center, they no longer provide PHP, I do believe they provide IOP, but only to Hawaiian residents, online.
The facility is not wheelchair accessible, and has many small flights of stairs throughout the facility. On average, there are typically around eight patients at a time. The highest patient census was 10 while I was there, and we had approximately two weeks with only four patients.
They only treat females, although they are LGBTQ and BIPOC friendly.
Upon admission, you are assessed by their psychiatrist, thereafter only on an as needed basis.You meet with your therapist three times a week, and the nutritionist one time per week. There are approximately four groups per day, ending at 4 PM.
They offer DBT, CBT, ACT, attachment, mindfulness, nutrition, music, and a couple Hawaiian specific art classes. I enjoyed the mindfulness classes and traditional Hawaiian art classes most. I found Processing to be the least useful.
The average day
The meals were usually ‘OK’, by that I mean they were mostly palatable, but if you are a foodie, you will be very disappointed.
Typical breakfasts included Eggos with peanut butter and banana, cereal with milk, oatmeal with hemp seeds, yogurt granola berries, bagel and bacon, toast with butter avocado and eggs.
Typical lunches included PB and J, chop salad, Greek salad with bread roll, and once a week takeout, this may be Thai, Domino’s, or subway sandwiches. Once a week there is a food demo in the kitchen where you make a meal together prior to eating it.
Typical dinners included pastas of every kind with various canned sauces, tofu or chicken with broccoli and rice, hamburgers, typical mainland American (Costco) fare. Dinner was by far my least favorite, it was often cold, required microwaving, and was cooked by someone who clearly did not have any experience. There is not a chef of any store at this facility.
I would say by far the food was the worst part of my treatment at Ai Pono, but as one who suffers from anorexia, perhaps this is to be expected.
Snacks included pita chips hummus, carrots/cucumbers, trail mix, Cliff bar, banana and peanut butter with graham crackers, fruit and nuts, ice cream, animal crackers and almond butter with strawberries.
Everyone had an afternoon snack and an evening snack; those needing weight restoration also had an early a.m. snack after breakfast.
Meal times were 45 minutes, and you had to stay at the table the entire time. Snacks were 30 minutes and you had to stay at the table the entire time.
Supplementing is required if one does not complete the percentage of meal plan. Typically new admits receive 50% the first two days during a grace period then 75% for two days then 100% there after if we restoration is the goal. They supplement with ensure, and boost if underweight. Supplementing is at 50% (8oz) and 100% (16 oz) of meals, no smaller portions. I did not see anyone under a 75% meal plan after the grace period, regardless of their size.
If you do not comply with meals, you are not afforded any privileges. This means that you cannot go outside without supervision, you may not go on beach walks, you may not go on outdoor experientials, you may not go on shopping trips.
The level system is one through four.
The first 3 days people are on observation. That means you sit by a staff member at meals, you must shower with the door a jar, you must go to the bathroom with the door ajar and have flush checks. Level one occurs automatically after three days and is where people will stay until petitioning to move to level two. Level two allows you to go outside on the lanai without supervision, although not within one meal one hour of meals, The door must continue to be left open for bathroom privileges and flush checks are required one hour after every meal. You may shower in your own room, mornings only. Moving from level two to level three is the biggest jump, because you may go outside on the property any time other than one hour after meals or snacks. This allows you to have some alone time which is very nice, given that you are not allowed to go in your room after breakfast, until after p.m. snack at 8:30pm. Very few people moved to level two until two weeks, level three until four weeks, and level four is typically only achieved by people who have been in residential treatment for over two months. Level four allows you to go outside anytime, and you may shut the bathroom door when you go to the bathroom except for one hour after meals . You may also shower at night time on levels three and four.
It is lovely that the facility is in Maui and close to the beach, but being able to experience anything Hawaiian requires that you be meal compliant and after you have been there one week. Often times, people who had difficulty finishing meals, we’re not able to go on any outings for weeks and weeks. The house can get very mundane.
The therapists are all phenomenal, and the Mileu staff is very supportive. I did not particularly get along with the dietitian, I found her to be somewhat cold and aloof. She did not seem empathetic and was primarily focused on weight gain. The expectation is 2 to 3 pounds of weight gain per week for anorexia.
I would recommend this program, because it did accomplish my three goals for residential treatment, which included weight restoration, the ability to eat three meals a day, and the quieting my exercise compulsion.
No exercise is allowed. No running, no playing with balls unless seated, no weight-bearing yoga, which essentially means you are only allowed to lightly stretch. Approximately twice per week you walk the two short blocks to the beach. The beach is all large rocks and once you arrive there you sit for the half an hour.
It is wonderful to go to the beach, but it’s not what I would consider a “beach walk”.
The electronics policy is as follows: for the first week you have no access to your phone or electronics. After one week you may have your phone for 1 1/2 hours after a.m. vitals before breakfast. And for approximately 30 minutes after lunch. Every other night, TV is allowed for two hours, although that was often not the case. Friday night is movie night.
I was level three when I left residential treatment, and it did not appear that day passes were ever given out, nor were there any family visitors.
They did you help facilitate transfer to PHP and IOP. It is my understanding that you would have to sign out ‘against clinical advice’ if you decided not to attend one of these two programs upon arriving home.
They do pick you up and drop you off at the airport, which is approximately 15 minutes away from the treatment facility.
New admissions must wear a face mask for five days and be tested for Covid.
This was my first experience in residential treatment, and I was suffering from anorexia and exercise compulsion when I arrived. From what I heard from various other people who had been to other treatment facilities, the rules were fairly standard. I made close friends at this facility, and felt that the therapy I received was high-quality. I had the most difficulty with the food, but perhaps that is to be expected.
does anyone have any recent reviews?
Would they take someone who ran away from home once and who had one suicide attempt?
Looking to possibly do residential treatment here later this month. Pros cons?
I have not been here personally however I just want to mention that I applied to admit here in Februrary and I was all set to go. They state they work well with clients who have co-occuring trauma and are very trauma informed however they suddenly declined to admit me specifically because of my trauma disorder. My friend also let me know that they wouldn’t admit her last year because she has autism, and they didn’t tell her she was denied until she was on the waitlist for over a month.
Wait this happened to me too! I had an assessment and got on the waitlist for a month waiting for a bed and then they called me after 3.5 weeks on the waitlist and said they didn’t want to admit me anymore because of my “black and white thinking” and rigidity due to autism. They said that their approach was fluid and that their therapists were emotion-based and that they thought a program with DBT would be better for me. Like since when do people with Autism not have emotion, empathy, or understanding?! Crazy how picky they are.
holy fuck thats not picky thats ableism wtf
Can anyone do a recent reivew? What are meals like? Do they honor preferences/can you have choice?
This isn’t a recent review, so hopefully there is someone who can provide one. However I did speak with the COO of Ai Pono in March and was able to ask her some questions about the current program. I’ll paste our conversation below! There is a part of the Q & A that does discuss their meal plan approach, but if you would like I can reach back out to her and ask whether they honor preferences/if you can have choice, or any other questions.
———
Q: How do you handle clients with trauma?
A: We specialize in treating co-occurring trauma. All of our therapy is trauma-informed, but we also utilize specific trauma treatment modalities such as EMDR, Brainspotting, and somatic therapy.
Q: Do you treat co-occurring substance abuse?
A: We do not treat active Substance Abuse/Substance Use Disorder.
Q: Are you able to treat clients with co-occurring mental health diagnoses aside from substance obviously, and if so, which ones?
A. We are able to address most co-occurring mental health diagnoses including anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and personality disorders. If a patient is in need of acute psychiatric care i.e. active psychosis, they would likely be referred to a dual-diagnosis facility however.
Q. Do you use an exchange-based meal plan?
A. We do not use an exchange-based meal plan. We work towards an intuitive eating and all foods fit approach.
Q: Do you offer transitional living/supported housing for PHP clients?
A: We do not offer “transitional living.”
Q. Do you still incorporate the book “Eating in the Light of the Moon” and/or the narrative/metaphor approach to treatment?
A. We do! All residents receive a copy of the book upon arrival and there are weekly groups that are related to its content and philosophies such as “Storytelling” and “Food and Feelings.”
What’s the phone policy?
Any recent reviews?
What is the electronic policy? I have 3 weeks of online college classes to finish, can I expect to finish?
What does the food look like day to day and/or how do they handle weight gain? Supplements or tube?
I was here in May 2021 and stayed less than a week. Hawaii is obviously beautiful but this place is not a good treatment center. It’s decent but did not work out for me
Pros-
-Hawaii is obviously beautiful
-House is near the ocean and they have daily walks to the water
-They were doing nature outings again where you get to see beautiful places on the island
-Fresh and healthy food prepared onsite
Cons-
-They also accept adolescents and you are mixed with them for everything. It’s also a very small house with only about 6 clients so you will be around them all the time. There were two 13yr olds while I was there and they were so obnoxious. Screeching and carrying on all the time and I found it very annoying and distracting
-They are extremely BASIC with groups and therapy. Do not expect to learn anything new if you ever even been in therapy before. I found it repetitive and boring
-My therapist was an intern and I really didn’t mesh well with her. I was not allowed to switch
-You get VERY little choice in what food you eat.
-They do not do labwork onsite. You have to go to a lab offsite. They were doing labs on me everyday for the first few days and each time I was at the lab for close to 2 hours because of how long the wait time was
-Expect to eat loooooots of chia seeds. I appreciated how they used a lot of healthy ingredients but I hated having chia seeds every breakfast
-They will not let you continue any benzo prescriptions for anxiety. They cut me off cold turkey and that was ultimately why I left early
-Traveling here is quite an ordeal. It was expensive and lengthy. Also traveling during COVID to Maui involves a screening process you can read about on Maui’s tourism website. Basically you have to get tested for COVID right before you leave, download a screening app, fill out application, go through special line at airport and get temperature taken, etc
Thanks Em! You rock. We have so little info on this site about Ai Pono. You are very much appreciated! I have a few other questions I’ve wanted to know and I think some people have wanted to know in the past, if you don’t mind! ? Just since there isn’t much out there to go off of from past clients.
– What was the average length of stay? (not including when someone left early)
– How did they deal with co-occurring things like anxiety and depression? Or SI or Trauma?
– What would you say was the usual ratio of clients to staff on the floor during the day?
– Was there a nurse on site 24/7? If not, what about one on call?
– How many therapy sessions a week? Did you get the sense that they were mostly interns?
– What were meals like? I guess like, how was the meal support? Some places have a more encouraging/supportive environment, some have staff that encourage conversation or table games, but then some places have staff that are mostly silent the whole time, or are rude (even like drill sergeants)? Do they redirect triggering talk/behaviors kindly versus harshly versus not at all? What type of staff member sat with you? Did they eat with you? — You don’t have to answer each of these specific thoughts re meal support, those are just some brainstorming ones based on my past experiences in treatment.
– Did they pick you up at the airport?
– Were bathrooms locked?
Then one final thing I’m curious about, which you can skip if you want: The founder is really well known for her focus on storytelling, metaphor, connection to nature, and intuitive eating/movement – did you get the sense that was a focus at the treatment center? I know you weren’t there very long, so no worries if you don’t know!
Of course, Rachel! I will do my best to answer given I wasn’t there very long:
– What was the average length of stay? (not including when someone left early)
I believe 4-8 weeks based off the other clients
– How did they deal with co-occurring things like anxiety and depression? Or SI or Trauma?
NOT WELL. I should have mentioned this in my original post but I would not recommend them AT ALL if these are problems for you that you need to work on in treatment. They are not equipped to handle it at all and will send you to the hospital quick. They are not med friendly for anxiety and that was ultimately what pushed me to leave ama.
– What would you say was the usual ratio of clients to staff on the floor during the day?
Ratio was close to 1 staff:2 clients most of the time given it’s so small. Often there was more overall staff (including nurses, techs, chef, housekeeping, therapists) than clients haha
– Was there a nurse on site 24/7? If not, what about one on call?
Yes 24/7
– How many therapy sessions a week? Did you get the sense that they were mostly interns?
I believe it was 2 times and yes def mostly interns
– What were meals like? I guess like, how was the meal support? Some places have a more encouraging/supportive environment, some have staff that encourage conversation or table games, but then some places have staff that are mostly silent the whole time, or are rude (even like drill sergeants)? Do they redirect triggering talk/behaviors kindly versus harshly versus not at all? What type of staff member sat with you? Did they eat with you?
I felt like meal support was pretty good. You start and end meals/snacks with a check-in with hunger/fullness levels and intentions. We played games or just talked. Never felt too awkward unlike most places (but also the two 13yr olds I was with were always loud haha). There was always at least 1 staff (a tech) sitting with us, sometimes 2 (another tech or sometimes nurse or therapist). They do eat with you BUT they are allowed to eat whatever they want and I sometimes found that triggering. For example, everyone had the same dinner one night (lasagna and a roll) but the tech eating with us made a yogurt and fruit bowl for herself. It felt weird we had to eat lasagna and she was eating something more appropriate for a snack.
– Did they pick you up at the airport?
Yes the picked me up and dropped me off at the airport, which is only about 10-15mins away
– Were bathrooms locked?
Yes, bathrooms are locked
As far as the storytelling/metaphors and the founder, I did not get that sense while I was there. I believe there was some mention of it in the handbook they give you at the beginning but it definitely was not a super big focus or anything. My therapist offered to lend me the Eating in the Light of the Moon book and I think they had a copy or two hanging out in the staff office. But I may not have been there long enough to see how they incorporated it.
Also, I thought of a few more things I wanted to add:
-They are DEFINITELY more focused on restrictive eating disorders/behaviors. This was evident my very first group when we each had to go around and tell the group which physical symptoms of anorexia nervosa we were experiencing. We were given a handout about anorexia and had to share. I felt very uncomfortable
-The staff is VERY laid back to the point it felt unprofessional. Maybe it’s the island life vibes but it was weird and I’m not even sure how to describe it
-For the nature outings, expect to be going to a beach or somewhere you have to wear a bathing suit. I wasn’t cleared for outings yet for the weekend I was there so I couldn’t go but honestly I would not have wanted to wear a bathing suit out in public that soon
-One of the nurses brought her 7ish yr old daughter to work with her one weekend and I thought that was the weirdest thing I’ve EVER experienced at a treatment center. Idk if she didn’t have childcare or what but apparently it wasn’t the first time. I felt very uncomfortable and it’s certainly a HIPAA violation to have her in the staff office during report, standing there during med pass, etc. And the daughter tore up the place lol and made such a mess. She was going through the pantry pulling out chips and candy bars to eat. Then when it was time to leave, she threw a massive tantrum because she didn’t want to go home. Very weird…
Could you possible provide an example menu of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options?
Hello, I was wondering if anybody had been to this facility recently. I’m wondering what the typical weekly weight gain is as well as if they are able to cater for food allergies and intolerances. Any notes would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
E
I’m trying to choose between Ai Pono in Hawaii and CFD Granite Bay. Both can get me in soon but they’re so different and I have no idea how to choose. AP is way more spiritual and I’m not spiritual at all but I think it could be good for me. I’m a psych student myself and I’m worried that whatever cognitive stuff CFD teaches wouldn’t be new to me. CFD is covered by my insurance though and it’s less risky because it’s a big name. I’ve also never been to res at all before but I’ve worked in a horrible psych hospital so I’m really really scared to just sign my life away to some facility. Any advice (even if you haven’t been to either) would be helpful, though if anyone has been to either I would so so appreciate hearing from you!
Cross-posted from Client General Forum by Admin
I went to cfd granite bay it’s a lot better but currently temporary closed
has anyone been here? I cannot find anyone who has been!
Hi there, I was in residential and PHP at the Maui location winter/spring 2020. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, with a caring, knowledgeable staff. The house is only a block or two from the beach, and once you are cleared, there are daily mindful walks to the beach. Ai Pono works on a level system (level 0 through 4, and you can petition to move up levels), and the treatment was much more individualized than what I’ve experienced in the past. In PHP, you have the option to live in the cottage next door. Meals are prepared on site by their cook, and there is a 4 week meal rotation, with breakfasts repeating every 7 days. The groups offered are pretty standard for ED programs. What set this program apart for me was the use of storytelling/metaphor as part of the recovery process. There is a strong focus on empowering women and embracing your femininity, as well. The psychiatrist here was AMAZING, and the dietitian was also wonderful. I loved the location, since you can see the ocean from the living room and in the winter you can see the humpback whales from the window, as well! Feel free to reach out to me if you have additional questions. I highly recommend Ai Pono if you are looking for a small, independent, and unique treatment experience.
Are you allowed to have your laptop/cell phone with you at all times?
Could you do an overview of the daily schedule (including times, groups offered, weekend vs weekday, how often you see providers)?
What sorts of foods served for meals and snacks?
What supplements?
Outings on weekends? Passes?
Forced to be there/ minimum length of stay?
Thanks so much for providing the helpful review. A couple of questions, what did you think of the medical component ? What type of movement is included? Can patients use cell phones at certain times each day? What is their expected weight gain rate? Thanks so much! I’ve heard wonderful things about the therapist there and am really interested.
Thank you for that how can I contact you?
What kinds of meals are served?
Did you have any problems with insurance coverage? Was it totally/partially covered? Were there any out of pocket costs? Thanks!
I did not have any problems with my insurance and mine was completely covered. It will definitely depend on your insurance, not on Ai Pono. I did not have any out of pocket costs but I already had met my maximum for the year so it will depend on how much you’ve already paid and what you insurance requires
Thanks so much! Sorry, one more question…what were the types of foods offered and do they supplement if you are underweight? THANKS SO MUCH, I really appreciate you!
Whit,
Would it be possible for me to email you directly? I have a few questions regarding treatment at Ai Pono.
Thank you so much,
Melissa,
Moderator- please share my email to Whit, thanks!
Any reviews would be so appreciated!!
Has anyone been here? Or spoken with the intake? Reviews please!