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A group of smiling people, including children, sit in the bed of a white pickup truck parked in a grassy area surrounded by palm trees and greenery.
A tranquil lagoon scene with people swimming and paddling on a blue board, surrounded by lush greenery, black rocks, and calm, blue-green water under a cloudy sky.
A hand holds colorful berries in the foreground, while people observe an erupting volcano with flowing lava and billowing smoke under a partly cloudy sky.
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A wooden house under construction stands elevated on stilts. The frame is exposed, with no walls yet. Scattered materials and containers surround the area on the ground.
A white pickup truck is parked in a grassy field under a bright blue sky. People and animals are present, with some supplies in the truck bed.
A smiling family of eight poses outdoors in front of lush greenery. Several children make shaka hand signs, and everyone looks happy and relaxed together.
In a workshop, two children and two adults, all wearing safety glasses, watch as metal is worked with a torch. Tools and metal decorations hang behind.
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House-sitting for homestead in Pahoa, Hawaii, USA

Profile information

  • rating

    Host rating

    80 %

  • Last replied

    Last replied

    27 Jul 2026

  • Reply rate

    Reply rate

    57.7 %

    Usually responds within 57 days

  • feedbacks

    Feedback

    51

  • Email verified

    Email verified

  • paid opportunity

    Host offers payment

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Availability

  2026 

 Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Aloha! We are Matt and Noelle with 6 kids under 14 down to 1!

    Matt grew up in the Philippines so felt at home when he moved to big island. Noelle was born and raised on Kauai, got her degree in California and travelled abroad, living in Italy 6 months, new Zealand 6 months and other places) before mo ving to the big island.

    We are a homeschooling family. Our kiddos are super sweet and just wonderful (no bias!) We love living as creatures in God's beautiful jungle here in Puna on the big island. We enjoy music, singing, community, gardening and growing things, cooking and baking, natural health, Lego creations, reading good living literature, ocean play, working outside and meeting new people- to name a few. We have one mainly outdoor cat, a dog and some parakeets.

    We believe in hospitality whether it's friends, family, new workaway friends or as rental hosts, and we are never bored with our businesses and interests! We can also use a lot of help!

    In this season, we have worked best doing exchanges with those who are independent and able to be self directed, have attention to detail,see the big picture value of supporting a family by their loving contribution, enjoy a family environment including happy (and sometimes not) little ones, open minded to new cultures (Puna area has its own intensity, wildness and pioneer like jungle vibes unique from US feel), can rent a vehicle (so worth it to explore all the beauty near and far!), can manage cooking for themselves,

    Maybe this is a good fit for you!

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Light gardening
    Creative DIY projects
    Farmstay help
    Help around the house
    Light maintenance
    House & pet sitting
  • Interests

    Interests

    Culture
    Writing
    Gardening
    DIY & crafts
    Fitness
    Beach
    Nature
    Carpentry
    Cooking & food
    Music
    Charity work
    Sustainability
    Farming
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We have had amazing experiences over the last 6-7 years with workaway folks from all over the world. We are a big family so a lot of our day goes into taking care of our little ones, but we still make time to soak in the volcanic hot ponds, dip in the river and ocean too, or maybe even watch the lava erupt straight from the volcano!

    We also love hospitality, having founded an organic bakery Cafe back in 2008, which now serves pastries and drink in downtown Pahoa Village. We are also superhosts on Airbnb and see all of these as part of our heart for hospitality and ethical business, as well as giving our kids the best opportunity we can provide to experience all types of people and cultures as they see us doing business in the most tangible way, hands on! We grow many Hawaiian crops as well as fruits and herbs from all over the world, for instance turmeric, jackfruit, avocadoes, taro, papaya and breadfruit. Would love to occasionally share meals and family time together. We love natural living and holistic approaches to health and life. Noelle and some of the kids do sourdough baking, natural fermentation, Hawaiian herbal plant knowledge, permaculture food forest basics and I'm sure a few other random skills ☺️.

    We value the exchange opportunity to get to know other cultures and positively share these things with our children in a rich world school feel.

    This exchange would allow a lot of freedom to travel and see the amazing things on the Big Island, as well as time helping our family and learning how we do life here in Hawaii.

    Vehicle rental or purchase is strongly advised because of the size of this island, which we can discuss more.

  • Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

    Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

    This host offers accommodation and payment.

  • Help

    Help

    House sit our homestead and get paid $16/hr for doing tasks! Could be helping refresh with painting, landscaping, hauling, cleaning depending on your skills maybe carpentry/mechanic type work as well. Help uis make the space even more hospitable and enjoy our island.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Whole house. Water catchment. Electric, wifi. This is rural off the beaten path Hawaii, NOT touristy, no night life, not beaches everywhere or resorts with drinks on the sand. This is a special kind of wild West place in the lush green lava rock ground jungle. Streets are often dirt roads in neighborhoods, no street lights, perfect for star gazing! Coqui frogs sing every night a lovely "bird-like" song. Puna area is a special place.

    If you are looking to slow down and have time to listen to birds (or frogs) sing, drink herbal tea and journal, work on personal hobbies and do some exploring on the weekends, this could be a good fit for you.

    We are also not far from the village with shops, restaurants, post office and so forth.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Some places of interest near us. Kahena black sand beach (by car 20 min, bus 1 hour), 25 min drive to the newest lava beach on Earth (!!!!) and geothermal hot ponds for swimming.

    Pahoa Village is our town. The old village has a health food store, kava kombucha bar, bakery, Thai, Hawaiian fusion, pizza and some shops. It is not a touristy place, but there are many travelers working on farms.

    Hilo is s 30 min drive (one hour bus ride) and has local farmers market, lots of cute shops, restaurants near the bus stop downtown along the ocean). In Hilo there are many water entry places like Richardsons beach, carl-smith beach, Honolii (surf spot). Hilo also has waterfalls (drive only), botanical gardens (drive). And beautiful parks to walk in. Kona 2 hours by car or 3.5 hours by bus. Some have caught the bus to Kona on the weekends and stayed at a hostel while visiting the downtown Kona touristy spots along Ali'i drive. Volcano town, where the national park is, is 1 hour.by car (and longer by bus!) .

    There is a bus that picks up close and goes around island, but does not come frequently and requires walking to places of interest. There are so many things to see! Volcano national park, Kona beach camping, Mauna kea, old time cowboy country of waimea, South point, green sand beach, manta ray snorkel experience, waterfalls. You will need to rent a car to get to most of these place though there is a non expensive bus around basic point on island.

  • 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

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

    Profile photo of Kahu

    Kahu

Host ref number: 958495456476

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