BARK Air Is Launching Luxury Dog-First Retreats in Hawaiʻi

What’s included in the BARK Air dog retreat?

Dogs on BARK Air fly in-cabin with their people. Photo: BARK Air

There are two available retreats, scheduled for March 15–19 and May 13–17, 2026. Participants and their pooches will stay in luxury oceanfront hales (traditional Hawaiian bungalows) overlooking Kahuwai Bay. Programming includes dog-inclusive experiences such as a welcome luau with beach access, guided “sensory wonder walks” through the resort’s grounds for dogs to experience the island via smell, morning swims at a designated beach area, and sunset yoga sessions in which the dogs are as welcome as people. Each four-legged guest will also receive “tailored toys, treats and comforts selected to match individual play styles, dietary preferences and allergy considerations.”

The retreat cost starts at $2,690 per night ($10,760 for four nights), plus resort taxes and fees, for guests who want to arrange their own transportation. However, travelers can add round-trip flights on BARK Air from Los Angeles to Kona for an additional $15,000 per human passenger, which includes travel for one dog of any size or two dogs weighing under a combined 50 pounds. It also includes on-site support from a “companion concierge” team to assist with Hawaii’s notoriously difficult pet entry paperwork, welcome kits for dogs, access to behavior and wellness facilitators throughout the stay, and pet babysitters for when dog parents want some time to themselves.

It’s a change from “pet-friendly” to “pet-inclusive”

Photo: BARK Air

While the retreat’s steep prices put it firmly in the luxury space, it does indicate an evolution in how pets are considered in the travel process. At many hotels, “dog-friendly” really means “dogs tolerated.” However, BARK retreat organizers say one of the goals is to plan a trip that actively accounts for dogs’ needs and includes activities and spaces designed for their enjoyment. “BARK Air’s ambition is to create incredible travel experiences for dogs and their families,” said Michael Novotny, President of BARK Air, in the retreat announcement. “As we continue our evolution from an airline to a holistic dog-first hospitality brand, this partnership is a natural and exciting extension of that mission.”

A recent survey found that more and more pet owners are making major life decisions based on their pets, from whether to quit their jobs to what partners to date. The same survey also reported that Americans spent $126 billion on their pets in 2022 — a number that climbed to $152 billion in 2024. A 2024 survey found that more and more travelers saying they want travel to be curated to their personal identity — and for more and more people, that identity includes being a dog owner. Road tripping with dogs has grown in popularity (don’t forget your dog seatbelt!), so flying with dogs in tow is the logical next step.

“In under two years, we’ve flown nearly 2,000 dogs across more than 200 flights, Novotny told Matador Network. “[We’ve] generated over $6 million in revenue, and we’re on track to more than double that in our second year. We’re now evolving beyond being an airline to build a dog-first hospitality ecosystem, and this partnership with Kona Village is a big milestone in that journey.”

Why host a dog retreat in Hawaiʻi?

Photo: Kona Village and BARK Air

Hawaiʻi is not an obvious choice for a dog-centric retreat. The state’s animal import regulations are among the strictest in the country, requiring extensive documentation, health checks, and advance planning in order to avoid a 120-day quarantine upon arrival. Organizers say the retreat is designed to make the trip as seamless as possible for people and dogs, even with the strict pet entry requirements. Guests will have access to a concierge team to handle animal entry details, including pre-flight vet coordination and entry paperwork for the islands. Bookings and coordination are managed via Embark Beyond (no pun intended).

BARK Air’s retreat model attempts to address this friction by bundling regulatory compliance, ground transportation, and accommodations into a single experience. Guests can arrive via private charter flights organized by the company or independently, with concierge support available either way. From a travel industry perspective, the concept mirrors a growing interest in “frictionless” luxury — where logistics are handled behind the scenes to reduce traveler anxiety.

Travelers interested in booking the BARK Air dog retreat should submit an inquiry via the retreats page. Because of Hawaii’s animal entry requirements and the limited size of each retreat, bookings are reviewed and confirmed on a case-by-case basis. Reservations must be confirmed by February 8, 2026 for the March retreat and April 8, 2026 for the May retreat in order to comply with Hawaii’s 35-day minimum window for dog entry to the islands.

Fortunately, if you can’t make it to Hawaii in the spring, you may have another chance. “We’re actively working on introducing more hospitality partnerships, including The Windsor Court in New Orleans where we’re debuting our BARK Happy program in early 2026,” Michael Novotny, BARK Air president, told Matador Network. It includes what Novotny calls “always on, dog-first programming,” ranging from personalized in-room amenities for dogs to private dog-walking services. “Our expansion into hospitality directly supports our mission of helping more dogs and dog parents travel well,” he says.