Join us on our non-profit organic garden farm and eco-retreat center in Hawaii, USA

Details

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  Description

  Please read our entire profile before contacting us to ensure we're a good fit for one another.
  
  Aloha, E Komo mai (welcome) to our 508(c)(1)(A) nonprofit organic farm and eco-retreat center, located on five lush acres on the edge of the Puna rainforest in Kaohe ("The Bamboo") Homesteads on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.
  
  Our mission is rooted in the Hawaiian value of mālama ʻāina—to care for and steward the land. Originally a flower nursery, the property has grown into a peaceful botanical sanctuary featuring dozens of varieties of Vireya rhododendrons along with a diverse collection of tropical fruit trees and edible plants, including seven varieties of citrus, pineapple, mountain apple, avocado, papaya, banana, achachairu, jaboticaba, guava, lilikoi (passion fruit), dragon fruit, mangosteen, starfruit, ulu (breadfruit), coffee, cacao, kalo (taro), and a variety of greens and herbs.
  
  Although we live completely off-grid, the property is equipped with the comforts and conveniences of a modern home. Our goal is to cultivate enough food to support ourselves, share with neighbors, and contribute any surplus to our local community. The help of dedicated volunteers plays an important role in maintaining and improving this special place.
  
  We especially enjoy hosting travelers from outside the United States, as the cultural exchange is enriching for everyone involved. Volunteers who are a great fit may have the opportunity to extend their stay.
  
  Please continue to read through the rest of our profile if you are serious about travelling here then if you're interested in joining us, please send us:
  
  Your preferred travel dates
  A detailed description of your relevant skills and experience
  Whether you'll be traveling solo or with someone
  Any questions you may have
  The best days and times for us to schedule a conversation
  
  If you don't yet have Workaway reviews, we'll simply ask for a professional reference.
  
  We look forward to hearing from you.
  
  Mahalo,
  
  Scottie & Tim

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Self development

  

  Farming

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Fitness

  

  Hiking

  

  Adventure sports
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We are honored to work with respected Hawaiian elders (kupuna) and kumus who periodically visit our sanctuary to provide authentic cultural experiences for our retreat guests. If these visits coincide with your stay, you are welcome to participate. We believe it is important to honor and learn about the indigenous culture that has stewarded these islands for generations, and every retreat guest participates in some form of Hawaiian cultural education during their visit.
  
  You'll also gain hands-on experience with organic tropical farming and become familiar with a wide variety of exotic fruits and vegetables that thrive in the unique climate bordering the Puna rainforest. This five-acre property was once home to the largest collection of Vireya rhododendrons in the Pacific. Many of these remarkable plants still flourish here, while others are being restored and propagated with the help of our volunteers. Their year-round blooms make the property a truly special botanical sanctuary.
  
  Throughout your stay, you'll also gain exposure to off-grid, sustainable living practices, from food production and land stewardship to renewable energy and water systems.
  
  If a retreat happens to be taking place during your stay, you may also have the opportunity to participate in selected activities that do not interfere with your volunteer schedule. We host a variety of wellness and personal growth retreats, including yoga, meditation, breathwork, and personal development programs.

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  Help

  We are seeking assistance in three main areas: Garden Farm/Food Forest, General Land Maintenance, Tree and Flower Care, building projects. Tasks will include any of the following depending on our needs for a specific time of the year: Maintenance of fruit trees and Vireya Rhododendron flower bushes, landscaping, invasive species removal, land clearing, pruning, organic fertilizing, organic foliar spray treatments, training young fruit trees, propagating specific species, manual weed control, weed whacking, building raised garden beds, planning and preparing new gardens where we will be planting a variety of greens, root vegetables, herbs and nitrogen-fixing crops, and implement crop guilds. Workawayers will have an opportunity to harvest fruits, vegetables and flowers depending on the time of year. Additional general tasks you may be responsible for are: maintaining compost pile, starting seedlings, transplanting, collecting items around the property for organic mulching, setting up weed mat, and general organizing of shed, seeds, and tools. We would love to have a Workaway guest who is skilled in carpentry to build compost bins and other building and maintenance projects.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  The main Hale features high ceilings and an open, a common area with a fully equipped community kitchen, including a refrigerator, freezer, gas stove and oven, large basin sink, ample countertop and pantry space, cookware, dishes, utensils, and everything needed to prepare meals from scratch. Adjacent to the kitchen is a comfortable living room with a couch, a loveseat, a large dining table, a desk, and additional seating. We ask everyone to help keep the kitchen immaculately clean at all times.
  
  Our shared Workaway cabins accommodate a maximum of four volunteers. Sleeping arrangements are either all female, all male, or one couple sharing a cabin. If only two volunteers are staying on the property, we can sometimes provide each person with a private cabin.
  
  The Hale also includes a spacious bathroom with two sinks and a large shower featuring two separate shower heads. A clothes washer and dryer are available for use.
  
  Starlink internet is available for limited use. To help maintain a peaceful, nature-focused environment, we do not allow amplified music or phone/video calls or watching movies on your laptop or mobile phone inside the main Hale. We have designated areas where you can make personal calls without disturbing others. We encourage guests to embrace the opportunity for a digital detox and immerse themselves in the beauty and tranquility of the land.
  
  Volunteers should feel comfortable preparing meals from scratch. We provide a variety of nonperishable staples, including rice, dried beans and lentils, quinoa, pancake mix, pasta and tomato sauce, oats, cereal, almond milk, cooking oil, vinegar, spices, salt, and pepper. Seasonal produce harvested from the land is available for everyone to enjoy and may include citrus, papaya, kale, lettuce, grape tomatoes, hot peppers, green onions, herbs, and many other fruits and vegetables throughout the year.
  
  To respect the preferences of our community, we do not allow meat or fish to be cooked in the community kitchen or with shared cookware, cutting boards, blenders, or other kitchen equipment. An outdoor cooking area with a dedicated stove, BBQ, and cookware is available for those who wish to prepare meat or fish. Dairy products, eggs, packaged cheeses, yogurt, milk, and deli meats may be stored and consumed inside the Hale.
  
  We prepare a community dinner once each week. If you'd like additional food options, both a health food store and a conventional grocery store are located approximately 3 miles (5 km) away.

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  What else ...

  The nearest town is Pāhoa, located just 3 miles (5 km) away. We recommend renting a car to fully experience the island, although many volunteers also choose to rent a scooter or bicycle, walk, or hitchhike.
  
  Pāhoa offers a variety of restaurants, cafés, bakeries, a kava bar, boutiques, local shops, an ATM, post office, hardware store, drugstore, laundromat, gym, and a full-service grocery store. A natural foods market, Island Naturals, is also located there.
  
  Public transportation is free across the entire island and provides service to downtown Hilo in approximately 50 minutes. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is about a 45-minute drive from the sanctuary. f the volcano happens to be erupting, we usually stop woring and take the crew up there to see it...it's spectacular! The coastline is just 15–20 minutes away, depending on which area you visit. You're also welcome to join us for weekend outings, which may include farmers markets, or community events.
  
  The Island of Hawaiʻi is home to the world's greatest concentrations of climate zones, encompassing 10 of the Earth's 14 climate classifications. Within a single day, you can experience everything from dry coastal lava fields and tropical rainforests to alpine landscapes and snow-capped volcanic summits. There is no shortage of incredible places to explore.
  
  About Us:
  We value open, honest, respectful, and mature, direct communication. Our community is built on kindness, personal responsibility, and consideration for others. Aggressive, disrespectful, bullying, or otherwise disruptive behavior is not tolerated. We are peaceful and happy.
  
  We live a peaceful, healthy, and sober lifestyle. Alcohol, recreational drugs, marijuana, smoking, and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the property. We also ask that volunteers do not return to the property under the influence of alcohol or any intoxicating substances. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy to preserve a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for everyone.
  
  Getting Here:
  The closest airport is Hilo International Airport, approximately 40 minutes from the sanctuary. From Hilo, you can reach Pahoa Town by free public bus, taxi, Uber, or Lyft. If taking the public bus, we will pick you up in Pahoa Town.
  
  Depending on where you're traveling from, flying into Kona International Airport may be less expensive. A free public bus connects Kona to Hilo in approximately 3½ hours, where you can transfer to another bus serving Pāhoa.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  Isis and Puscifer

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