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

Details

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  Description

  Update 4/19: We have 1 spot available in our May 1-16 cohort. We are now open to applications our June/July/August cohorts*.
  
  Aloha,
  
  E Komo mai (welcome) to a 508c1a non profit organic farm and eco retreat center on 5 acres located on the edge of the Puna rainforest in an agricultural zone called Kaohe (the bamboo) Homesteads. “Malama aina” means to care for the land, and that is our primary mission. A former flower nursery, our property is truly a unique, nature-filled lush oasis. We have dozens of Vireya Rhododendron varieties throughout the property, as well as fruit trees including 7 varieties of citrus, pineapple, mountain apples, avocado, papaya, banana, achachairu, jaboticaba, guava, lilikoi (passion fruit), dragonfruit, mangosteen, starfruit, ulu, coffee, cacao, kalo, and a variety of greens, and herbs. We are completely off-grid, yet equipped with all the amenities of an on-grid home. Our goal is to produce enough food on our homestead to trade with neighbors and serve the local community with any surplus. Food sovereignty and security is important in this area because it is rated one of the most food insecure locations in Hawaii. Therefore, your assistance on the land will be helping our family, our neighborhood, and local community access a variety of fresh organic foods year round.
  
  We prefer hosting travelers from outside of the USA for cultural immersion on both ends of the exchange. There is an ability to stay longer for Workaway guests who are a great fit!
  
  Message us with your potential travel dates, describe your relevant experience and skills in detail, and let us know if you will be traveling with someone or solo. If you have no reviews, we will be requesting a reference. Please send us any questions you may have and the best times to set up a conversation together.
  
  Mahalo,
  Scottie and Nicole

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  During your stay you *may* have the option and opportunity of meeting a Kumu (Hawaiian spiritual teacher) who will provide insight, education and context of Hawaiian indigenous culture. This can include an authentic ancient hula lesson, an Imu (underground cooking method) experience, a sweat lodge, or another type of Hawaiian ritual or ceremony. We work with Hawaiian elders, kupuna, and kumus in the area who visit the sanctuary to provide our retreat guests authentic Hawaiian cultural experiences which you would be able to participate in when they are occurring. It is compulsory for all our retreat clients staying with us to have some form of educational cultural experience to honor and learn about the indigenous culture that was here long before these islands became occupied by western culture.
  
  Additionally, you will learn local organic tropical growing methods and gain exposure to a wide variety of exotic tropical fruits and vegetables that grow in this climate bordering the Puna rainforest. This 5 acres once hosted the largest variety of vireya rhododendrons in the entire Pacific, most of which still flourish on the land here and some need rehabilitation. These flowers bloom all year and we have a few rare varieties we are trying to propagate with the assistance of our farm helpers, who are in a unique position to perpetuate this species. You will have exposure to off grid, sustainable ways of living.
  
  Lastly, if there happens to be a retreat occurring during your stay, you may have the opportunity and option of participating in some of the activities that do not interfere with your farm help schedule. We host wellness and spiritual retreats ranging from Yoga, meditation, and personal development.

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  Help

  We are seeking assistance in three main areas: Garden Farm/Food Forest, General Land Maintenance, Tree and Flower Care. 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, a few basic trellis systems for our dragonfruit and vine-growing vegetables, and/or a basic wooden platform.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  We have a preference for hosting travelers from outside of the USA for cultural immersion on both ends.
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  Accommodation

  You will be staying in the 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom Hale (house). The Hale includes high ceilings in the common kitchen and living areas. The spacious community kitchen is equipped with a refrigerator and freezer, gas stove and oven, large basin sink, ample countertop and food storage space, cooking utensils, plates, pots, and pans. We have a policy of keeping the kitchen immaculately clean at all times. The kitchen is connected to a living room area with a couch, and two loveseats, a bistro table, a desk, and several chairs. Your bedroom is shared amongst other Workaway guests, assuming either all female or all male, or one couple. We limit the number of active Workawayers on property to 5 people at any given time. This shared bedroom has two sets of bunk beds (twin size) with a privacy curtain, and a lofted twin bed - similar to a hostel, but nicer.
  
  The Hale includes a large bathroom that has 2 sinks and a very large shower with two separate shower heads. We have a clothes washer on-site that can be used during sunny weather; when the weather is too wet for clothes to hang dry in the sun, a dryer is available for use. There is also a laundromat available daily about 10 minutes away.
  
  We do have Starlink internet available for limited use. There are times of the day and night when we turn it off, or if the staff has Zoom/video calls, it may be unavailable due to bandwidth priority for the Zoom calls. We encourage all guests to embrace this as a true sanctuary; to submerse and occupy themselves in the lush environment of nature rather than staring at screens. This is a wonderful place for a digital detox and disconnection from the outside world.
  
  You must feel comfortable cooking foods from scratch. Nonperishable staples will be provided, such as rice, dried beans, canned vegetables, oats, cereal, almond milk, cooking oil, vinegar, spices, salt and pepper. We harvest items from the land that the community is welcome to, such as the many citrus varieties, papaya, cooking spinach, katuk, asian cabbage, kale, lettuce, grape tomato, hot peppers, spring onions, green onions, herbs, and many other seasonal fruits.
  
  Note, we do not permit the cooking of animal products (e.g., meat, fish, eggs) in the community kitchen or with community appliances (blender, pots, pans, cutting boards). There is an outdoor stove with a separate pan where you may prepare eggs, meat, fish and cheese items if you desire. Acceptable animal products inside the house and refrigerator include packaged dairy products (yogurt, cheese, milk, etc) or deli meat. Fruit platters, vegan fruit smoothies, and/or juices from the land will be available on some work days. Community dinners occur about 2-3 times per week. You will have access to the in-season fruit and vegetables on the land. If you'd like to eat more than what we have, there is a nearby health food grocery store and regular grocery store (approximately 3 miles / 5k away).

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  What else ...

  The nearest town to us is 3 miles (5km) away, called Pahoa town. We encourage renting a car to get around the island. You may also rent a scooter, bike, walk, or hitchhike. Pahoa town has many small businesses from restaurants to cafes and bakeries, kava bar, ATM, post office, and a variety of boutiques and shops as well as a large grocery store. There is a laundromat, a hardware store, drugstore, and gym. This is also where the nearest healthy grocery store is to Sol Sanctuary, called Island Naturals.
  
  To get to Hilo downtown, the public bus is free of charge and takes about 50 minutes. Volcanoes National Park is about a 45 minute drive. We enjoy taking trips there to hike and would be willing to go on an adventure with all of you hikers out there! The ocean is about a 15 - 20 minute drive depending on which area you go to. We are happy to have you join us on our weekend community event-attendance, such as local dancing, concerts, weekend farmers markets, etc.
  
  Hawaii Island contains the world's greatest concentration of climate types containing 10 out of 14 of the Earth's climate categories. From dry, coastal, desert strand to some of the wettest spots on earth, to hot humid tropical lushness to stark, barren, snow-capped mountains. It is the place of extremes and the most diverse of all the islands. There is a lot to see and experience.
  
  About us; We value open, honest, and mature communication. We do not tolerate immature, aggressive, rude, or bullying behaviors. We live a peaceful, calm, healthy and also sober lifestyle, therefore, there is no alcohol allowed on the property; similarly, no drugs are allowed on the property and we only allow Workawayers who agree to not partake in any form of alcohol or drug usage on property, which includes marijuana. Smoking of any kind is also prohibited.
  
  Getting here: Fly into Hilo Airport, which is approximately 40 minutes from Sol Sanctuary. Available forms of transportation to the homestead include free public transportation via bus, taxi, and rideshare (e.g. Uber or Lyft). Flying into Kona may be more affordable for some, depending on where you are coming from; in this case, a free public bus is available from Kona airport to Hilo, which takes approximately 3.5 hours to Hilo. From Hilo, you would transfer to another public bus to get to Pahoa town.

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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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  Hours expected

  24 hours per week

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