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Create a self-sustainable, eco-friendly homestead and lifestyle with our happy family in Waimea, Hawaii, USA

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Aloha! We are Jennifer & Lupe and would love to have you join us and start your adventures with us in the Big Island of Hawaii! We offer a lot of flexibility...make your own hours, schedule and choice of tasks. We respect that this is a mutual exchange and want to create a positive experience for everyone. We definitely need the help in maintaining our large household and homestead. We can help you by sharing our knowledge of the island and hope to make your stay as enjoyable as possible with friendly conversation, suggestions for places to see and visit, and offering a place of privacy and peaceful solitude.

    We met in Santa Cruz, California while attending college and working together in a gas station/car wash. Over Spanish lessons, we fell in love, got married and eventually decided to move to the Big Island where we raised our kids and made our forever home. Lupe grew up in Mexico and felt at home once we moved here to the islands. He runs his own construction business and loves to joke and share wisdom and insights of his experiences. Jennifer was born and raised in Oahu and stays at home caring for the household and daily affairs. She offers kindness and motherly care for all who need or want attention or advice. Our daughter, Leiani (22), now traveling through Mexico and is awaiting her next adventure. Our son, Dante (19), is working with Lupe and learning a new trade.

    We are a happy family (mostly) with 2 yellow labs, 1 kitten, 2 cows, and 15 chickens. Our kids are friendly and typical young people who are on their own journeys of self-discovery. We love spending time conversing and look forward to creating an eco-friendly lifestyle with hopes and dreams of eventually building a greenhouse and farm for self-sustainability, and side businesses hosting other travelers, and eventually, creating low-income housing. Please be aware that this is a working farm and we do raise our animals for food, ethically and with love.

    We love meeting new people from all over the world and look forward to learning and sharing and welcome you to our home!

    *We paused hosting Workawayers during the last 3 years due to the pandemic. We are choosing to start hosting again but require all who inquire to stay here is either vaccinated or has had Covid and recovered in the last 6 months. We only want to host those who are careful and still take precautions not to infect themselves or others. If you do not have this mindset, we respect your decision, but this home is not the place for you. We hope you respect ours. Mahalo for your consideration and compassion for others!*

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Welcome to the Aloha state! Hawaii offers deep roots in Hawaiian culture - music & hula, unique art and crafts. Many local people are very warm and friendly and often show visitors the meaning of aloha and the love of our land. A mutual respect, personable attitude and appreciation of the people and surroundings will get you far and lend to a positive experience for all who visit the islands.

  • Help

    Help

    As the old saying goes, “It takes a village.”

    Looking for 2 or more independent, mature people who are self-starters and can offer value to the whole. Attention to detail is really important to us. We believe in doing a job well and want others who feel the same way!

    Mostly, we will need help with daily tasks that aren't too rigorous. It may be a bit dull, but we have a huge house that constantly needs vacuuming, cleaning, dishes, watering plants, and caring for our animals. We also need those with extraordinary organizational skills to help sort through a mountain of household items, furniture, and boxes acquired through the years! and who won't get caught up in overthinking while sorting. Help is needed listing some items, so computer/phone skills will be useful.

    Help is possibly needed with sanding and painting, home construction and add-ons. Those with any previous construction skills will be greatly appreciated, but it's not a requirement and Lupe is skilled at teaching anyone who wants to learn.

    Once we get our household in order, our vison is to start creating a small but productive farm for our own food and household products. We want to grow a variety of plants - vegetables, herbs, fruit trees and more in order to steer away from needing to buy store-bought items and to reduce our waste.

    One thing important to us is a love for our dogs...our labradors need the love and attention from those that are comfortable with large, pushy, loving furry friends. We only want those who love dogs! They definitely could use the love and attention that we don't always have the time to give them. Their names are Popcorn and Luna. As stated, attention to detail is really important to us, so please include their names when you inquire about staying here.

    Other tasks may include:

    - Dusting, vacuuming & cleaning the kitchen & bathrooms
    - Bathing & playing with/exercising dogs
    - Moving furniture, home decorating
    - Assisting with small construction projects around the home and farm
    - Weed whacking, landscaping
    - Vacuuming & washing cars
    - Computer skills, website design
    - Organizing files & photos
    - Bookkeeping

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent
    Portuguese: Intermediate

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Waimea is at an elevation of 2700 ft., so it usually doesn’t get too hot and often has cool, sometimes chilly nights.

    You will be staying in a nicely furnished, canvas tent separate from the main house, located in the backyard of a 5-acre ranch. These are shared between 2 people and are very spacious. We do have many chickens so you will experience much clucking and an occasional cock-a-doodle-doo early in the mornings and sometimes during the night...Light sleepers beware.

    The main house has a full kitchen you can use for all your cooking, bathroom for showers, laundry facilities and a pool table and foosball table. There is also a grill and a fire pit. It does rain often, so the fire pit is used seasonally.

    Meals are not provided, however some staple foods (rice, potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, coffee, tea, etc.) and seasonings are available. We buy mostly organic and local goods and cleaning products. I love to cook and sometimes make meals for everyone. We will try to accommodate you as much as possible so that you will be comfortable and feel welcome in our home!

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    You will enjoy beautiful Hawaii with its majestic green mountains and valleys in a temperate tropical climate. We live on the Big Island which offers 11 of the 13 climate zones...everything from sandy beaches to an active volcano. There are many hiking trails and waterfalls, or enjoy swimming, snorkling, or seasonal whale watching (November through May). And if you are lucky, take a swim with the dolphins (happened for our last workawayers)! Visit the many farmers markets and enjoy local foods and tropical fruits.

    We are located 5 minutes drive from Waimea town. Waimea is a small town of about 7,000 residents with 3 grocery stores, 2 coffee shops, and a number of small businesses and stores. There are 3 farmers markets, several restaurants and a local brewery with live music on the weekends. We are 20 minutes drive from the best beaches on the island and 1 hour drive from Kona, 1 hour drive from downtown Hilo.

    A final note*
    The Big Island of Hawaii is a large place with transportation limitations. The bus is not very reliable nor useful to get you to the places you want to explore or the beach. Many travelers find themselves living in areas far from town and without a way to get around - hitchhiking is a method often used. We, however, live fairly near to town, have a dedicated car which may be available for use, but cleanliness, maintenance and keeping the gas tank full will be expected.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    Our internet is pretty fast and WiFi is strong. We have experienced momentary pauses in connection from time to time, but overall, I would rate internet access a 9 out of 10.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 784879959884

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