We recently sat down with Reverend Mayanna Anderson of Doorway Into Light (also known to many locals as “the Death Store”) to talk about end-of-life options that feel more natural, meaningful, and community-centered—especially for families on Maui.
Doorway Into Light is a licensed funeral home and a nonprofit, certified green funeral home serving Hawaiʻi families with education, support, and meaningful alternatives to conventional burial practices. Their approach is rooted in community care: clear information, gentle guidance, and a calm environment where families can ask questions without pressure.
Green burial services
Doorway Into Light provides green burial support with an emphasis on minimizing environmental impact. Green burial typically means:
- No embalming chemicals
- Simple, biodegradable caskets (often cardboard, softwood/pine, or bamboo)
- A focus on natural processes without unnecessary materials that interrupt decomposition
They often work with Makawao Cemetery, known for values that match a green, nonprofit, community-oriented approach (cemetery arrangements and plot costs are handled separately).
Green burial sliding scale: approximately $2,500–$3,500 (plus cemetery costs)
Full-body ocean burial
For families who feel called to the ocean, Doorway Into Light also offers full-body ocean burial, an increasingly requested option for those seeking a natural return to the elements.
Families may participate in meaningful rituals—such as anointing, dressing, and wrapping their loved one in a 100% cotton shroud—if they wish. The burial takes place by boat, and the timing depends on safe weather and captain availability.
Doorway Into Light also provides GPS coordinates of the release location, which many families treat as a memorial “place” they can return to over time—similar to visiting a grave site, but on the water.
Ocean burial sliding scale: approximately $4,500–$5,500
Boat rental fees are separate and paid directly to the captain.
Practical guidance when someone dies
A huge part of Doorway Into Light’s work is helping families understand next steps—especially when death arrives and people feel unprepared. They help explain:
- What happens first
- How transportation works
- How choices differ depending on whether the death is expected (for example, under hospice care)
- What options exist for burials and memorial
They emphasize that there are “no bad questions,” and that simply talking things through— before a crisis—can prevent confusion and conflict later.
Burial on private land: possible, but plan early
Another question they often receive is: Can someone be buried on family land? Doorway Into Light shares that it can be possible, but it involves planning, zoning, and environmental review—and it can take years, so it’s not something to wait on until the last minute.
Visit Doorway Into Light – The heart of it all: a safe place to talk
Doorway Into Light exists to make death less confusing, less isolated, and less frightening—so families can focus on what matters most: love, clarity, and grief without chaos.
If you’ve been meaning to explore green burial, ocean burial, or simply want a calm place to ask questions, Reverend Mayanna invites the community to visit:
Open House: Saturdays, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (or by appointment)
Location: Pawela Cannery (Makai side), 375 W. Kuiaha Rd., Suite 5, Haiku, Maui
Website: doorwayintolight.org / ipuka.org
