A method for growing flat, low defect density, and strain-free thick non-polar III-V nitride materials and devices on any suitable foreign substrates using a fabricated nanocolumns compliant layer with an HVPE growth process is provided. The method uses a combination of dry and wet etching to create nanocolumns consisting of layers of non-polar III nitride material and other insulating materials or materials used to grow the non-polar III-V nitride materials.