Lova Lava Land Eco-Resort -- Hawaii, USA

Woman-owned business
profile by Kim Mance,
Galavanting co-editor-in-chief

Lova Lava Land Eco-Resort

Owner: Anitra Pickett
Location: Big Island, Hawaii, USA
Established: 2007

Some women dream of going to Yale and then on to work on Wall Street. Well, Anitra Pickett did that, and she accomplished her goals. But she had also always dreamed of owning a few acres of land in paradise – where she could live outside in the open. Fate worked it out for her and her husband when they found the perfect place.

Relying on a brainstorm of ideas, some ingenuity, and a ton of hard work, Anitra literally built her business from scratch with her own hands. The result is Lova Lava Land Eco-Resort, a three-acre, 100 percent off-grid eco-resort on Hawaii's Big Island.

Anitra describes it saying, "In every way possible we have tried to use green, sustainable, & recycled materials in our construction practices. Our goal is to prove that visitors can have comfortable accommodations while being eco-friendly!"

Accommodations range from a complete round cabin-like Yurt, to pimped-out renovated VW Camper Buses. And from composting toilets to free wi-fi. Visitors can make use of creative amenities like a lava-rock shower built by Anitra, from rocks harvested from their own land.

With so much commercialism on the islands, Anitra's resort is truly unique, and could satisfy even the most die-hard environmentalist's standards.

Her inspiration for opening the resort was to be free from slaving away in the corporate world, and build a life she wanted to live.

She says that despite the many challenges that come with starting and owning her own business, it has many rewards as well. "I’m able to offer a service that good people really appreciate and even more importantly, that mother earth appreciates" says Anitra.

With about 80 percent of her guests (or those doing the booking/talking) being female, Anitra says, "I guess they just sense that it’s a safe, fun place – maybe since a female built it and built the website!"

She reveals her passion for both Hawaii and nature, when describing it, "After checking out all the Hawaiian Islands, my heart definitely stays on the Big Island. For one, it’s BIG and there’s so much to do – with 11 out of the 13 micro-climates on one island! Since it’s the youngest in the island chain, there’s a certain edginess and newness about it – especially when you go watch the lava flowing into the ocean and realize that you are experiencing the very earth being created in front of your eyes!"

So if you're up for a Hawaiian adventure, getting some serious bang for your buck, and helping reduce your tourist impact on the environment, be sure to check out Anitra's place. ■

photos courtesy of lovalavaland.com