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Host is looking for help immediately
Host rating
90 %
Last replied
28 Mar 2024
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Description
We're a family with three kids (born in 2013 and 2014) living in a stunning valley on the north shore of Kauai, Hawaii's Garden Island.
For the last 6 years we've lived collaboratively with 2-4 long term guests at a time. We reimagine education, build out the land, learn and grow from each other, and give back to the larger community.
To join us, you'll want to be sure of several things:
1) You are in a stage of your life where you have a strong desire to hang out with and teach elementary age children. It takes passion, patience, and skill. If you are, understandably, looking for a place to stay while you collect fun experiences on vacation in Hawaii, and simply like, or don't mind, having kids around, then that is not going to be enough for a good fit. That said, guests are not responsible for parenting our kids and we are not looking for nannies.
2) You have a passion for learning and the inclination to really mindfully engage with us and our projects. We have many ongoing endeavors (building, farming, teaching, cooking, etc) that require high quality execution and follow through. We have in-house skill in various trades, and are happy to teach attentive guests eager to learn and grow and with a can do, MacGyver-like mindset.
3) You are comfortable with a two to six month minimum stay. We have found that it is necessary for building a true connection with our family, and it allows you to take on and see projects through to the end.
The best way to think about living with us is to consider yourself joining a family, a mini-community, and a homeschool educational project. We aim high and use structure and routine to help us maintain good habits, and hopefully raise healthy children. Think "homeschool family internship."
Guests generally help with three things.
1) Much of your time will be spent on projects which include landscaping, building, gardening, painting, and various special projects (upcoming include a greywater system, solar hot water, new decks).
2) Some of your time may be spent doing office and research type work.
3) And if you are a passionate, skillful teacher, we have a lot of homeschooling needs (writing, math, sports, cooking, Spanish, Thai, etc.)
We take education seriously and will support you as needed with well designed curriculum tools.
In the garden, we're aiming to replicate parts of the "Dervaes Family Farm" which you can google.
Some things to note:
We make a point of living as a small community / big family. Everyone joins us on weekdays for an early morning 10 minute quiet sitting as the sun comes up, followed by breakfast at 7am. We try to cook 3 times a week on a MWF schedule and stock the fridge with prepared food that can easily be reheated before meals.
Outside of your communal responsibility for food prep, common area cleaning, and joining for weekday breakfasts and dinners, we ask guests to aim for 25 hours a week of focused, efficient, productive work.
We live near one of the best places to learn to surf in the islands, and can get you to a beach every day. We are a 4 minute drive to a lovely, sheltered, swimming and snorkeling beach, and 12 minutes to Hanalei (closest bus stop).
We are in a rural location with narrow, windy roads and that require a car. For that reason, and out of respect for the local community, there is no hitchhiking, walking, running or biking to or from our house. There is also very limited taxi service. We live in a designated overnight tourist free zone, where it is especially important to deeply respect the neighbors and the difficult history of these islands. The tourist industry has made it is easy to forget that Hawaii remains a occupied kingdom.
On weekends guests often share a rental car or take the $2 bus south from Hanalei. A monthly car rental from local families we know is about $900. So far 4 guests have bought used cars, which we'll help show and sell if you don't before you leave.
If we sound like a family you'd like to support, please tell us more about yourself, your specific skills, experience, aspirations, and anything else that helps us get to know you.
Many Thanks!Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity WorkArt ProjectsLanguage practiceHelp with Eco ProjectsTeachingGardeningDIY and building projectsAnimal CareFarmstay helpCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceHelp with Computers/ InternetUN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We're unusual in that we feel so strongly about living in a more communal way. In our last homes in Madrid, and near San Francisco, we regularly had 3-5 people eating meals with us every day - with several languages between us. Here, the kitchen table seats 8 to 10. Our family is a mix of Irish American and Northern Thai.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Here is the orientation you'll need to succeed.
1) You lean toward being a self starter and leader.
2) You like challenges and hold a high bar in all you do.
3) Great with kids and have a genuine interest in teaching and spending time with them.
4) An ability to keep your phone in your pocket when around the kids.
5) An interest in living communally and giving/sharing with others - and back to the wider community.Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
Thai: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We''re always looking for guests wanting to practice and expand their Spanish and/or Thai.Accommodation
It really depends on who is staying with us at the time, with a first come first choice policy. Most people stay in either of several extra rooms. Be prepared to share a room, but often that is not necessary as we have a lot of space.
What else ...
Research the north shore of Kauai, and you'll get a sense of the stunning beauty.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Yes, we have fast internet. Ideally you're on vacation, or your main job is a remote online one. Many guests work or go to school online.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5 hours a day with 2 days off a week.
Feedback (26)
It is easy to imagine him making a significant contribution to any project. He's smart, mature, and competent. He's great with kids, great with adults, and really good at making a lot of things happen. You can give him a wide range of projects and he'll complete… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
It is easy to imagine him making a significant contribution to any project. He's smart, mature, and competent. He's great with kids, great with adults, and really good at making a lot of things happen. You can give him a wide range of projects and he'll complete… read more
This is not a normal workaway. Do not expect to just spend 25 hour working in exchange for food and a place to sleep.
The moment you enter the house you become part of the… read more
Steve is clear about his expectations and was always trying to be flexible in order to meet the workawayers request which is super kind. Due to the location situation, Steve was flexible and considerate of helping us out by letting us know his schedule in advanced when… read more
Steve is one of the most interesting people I've ever met. I've learnt a lot working with him, and I feel lucky I've got to know his mindset and determination. As general advice for the new guests to come: open up to Steve's method and be ready for challenges, but know he will… read more
I spent almost seven Months with Steve and the kids and I feel someone completely different. I think I'm a better person now.
Scarlett, Quinn and Robin are the most amazing kids I have ever met. They stole my heart and made me feel like a kid again, helped me to discover myself, pushed me to love in a level I… read more
*Amazing children: bright, creative and loving- a joy to be with.
*Intelligent, caring, supportive and generous parents
*Morning meditations- You could chose to take part- loved every… read more
I strongly… read more
It is hard for me to capture all I gained from this experience in a few words, but the sentence above does a great job of summarizing. I instantly connected with the kids who all have such unique and energetic personalities. So for me, this quickly became a family internship. I learned about… read more
Since my stay, I have remained in contact, and they have indeed become lifelong friends. The kids are so full of life and joy it's amazing to be around. They are… read more
The kids are just great, they are very sweet and super curious about a lot of things. They can spend hours listening to a book reading, that's so nice !! I only stayed two weeks with them but it was awesome to see them learning new things, questioning themselves about so many things that… read more