Profile information
Host is looking for help immediately
Host rating
100 %
Reply rate
98.8 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
102
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
Aloha! We are a family who raises our own food right here on the beach in Hawai’i. We have rabbits, pigs, ducks, quail, turkeys, and lots and lots of chickens. I’m working on getting more fruit and veggies growing but the trees are still young so not giving much.
I started back at work now that my children are older and have found I could use some help with the care of the plants, house, and animals. We live in a town with the highest amount of native Hawaiians in the state and the best weather and beaches. Our home is located across the street from a gorgeous secluded beach and a small mountain hike that is perfect for sunset.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Omgoodness, this area is full of cultural opportunities and it’s my passion. I can teach you the proper etiquette for exploring the natural wonders, heiaus, hikes, dives if you are scuba certified, how to make leis from natural fibers and flowers etc
We have a fully stocked library of Hawaiiana in the rooms downstairs where you stay. Books on the animals, plants, history, hikes, myths, and legends of this area. It is also a way for you to get extra excited about coming. read about these things ahead of time. It makes your stay that much deeper and more authentic.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AS TO WHAT TASKS ARE EXPECTED AND HOUSEHOLD RULES. PLEASE ONLY RESPOND IF IT ALIGNS WITH YOU PERFECTLY. I don't mean to be harsh but we get so many people that copy and paste messages to each host or just talk about themselves that I need to put this message here. In your email, if you can title your email with your name and your requested dates, it really helps me organize all the requests. Thank you.
If you email without reading the profile in its entirety and email accordingly, I will feel like you sent a copy/paste message and I won't host you. You will just receive an automated message response saying that you didn't read my profile and good luck in the future.
Preference to two people traveling together, skilled or experienced labor, and longer stays with current reviews. It does not mean you should not apply if you don't fit into these funnels.
Curious about backyard small-scale home farming including poultry as livestock?
Wanna learn what it takes to plan, maintain and run? Not afraid of dirty work?
Are you reliable, trustworthy, and strong?
Are you a hard worker? I mean do you move fast, efficiently, and fiercely with attention to detail?!
Two-week minimum commitment as it’s a lot of energy for me to teach
Examples of responsibilities could be:
Feeding and watering many ducks, quail, chickens, rabbits
Sanitizing feed and water containers and habitats
Turning animal manure into healthy fertilizer
Cleaning out animals coops
Learning how to diagnose basic bird disease and treat
Planting, pruning, fertilizing, mulching, and harvesting fruit trees
Starting seedlings and transplanting
Gaining knowledge on weeds. Most can be made into medicine or food. Removing them from places they shouldn’t be and feed the animals with them
Collecting, washing, and packaging eggs from all the birds
Basic repairs on cages as needed
Mowing, weed whacking, sweeping (so much sweeping)
Helping maintain the community living space an hour a day or so. (not counted in hours as you will be using the living room, kitchen, bathrooms just like at home.)
Maintaining a live compost pile
Handy(wo)man skills
Ethically harvesting birds (if you’re comfortable with it)-absolutely optional
Deep cleaning inside the house for the family including our personal bathrooms and bedrooms
Random things that I need help with like washing cars, dogs, organizing inside the house, etc
PLEASE WHEN REACHING OUT TELL ME SOMETHING THAT SHOWS ME YOU READ AND UNDERSTAND THE TASKS. ONLY REACH OUT IF YOU DO AND SEE THAT I HAVE AVAILABLE. SO MANY PEOPLE REACH OUT AND DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE CALENDAR OR TASKS and that makes me feel like they wouldn't actually pay detailed attention to rules or work. :(
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
I speak English well and since it is all I speak, I will be sharing it :) I wish I had the bandwidth to learn another language but I do not. My daughter however is a second-year Japanese student so knowing Japanese would be helpful and could count as your hours if you're willing and able to teach it.
Accommodation
Private entranced, beautiful, well maintained shared large bedroom with small walk-in closet, two beds, microwave, and mini-fridge. The commitment for the room is 25 hours per person each week. Shared bathroom with the other room downstairs. Shared kitchen in main living space.
Security cameras on property and gates help keep everyone safe but the neighborhood has some houseless folk that can be visually rough if you're not used to it. No danger to your person but you don't want to leave things in your car or loose on the beach.
I cook dinner most nights for the family anyway and have always included our work-trade friends. I LOVE when guests cook for us and each guest is expected to cook once a week per person not counted in hours. That way most nights you get cooked for by me or the other guests and then you reciprocate. It makes for a very tight community bonding experience. That said, if you are out and about and exploring, just text me and let me know you won't be home for dinner so I don't plan on you being here to eat.
If there are dietary restrictions, it may be overwhelming for me. For example, vegetarianism is easy enough for me to adjust to for some meals but veganism or allergies are stressful and you'd be responsible for any special food and cooking it. I cook mainly dishes from the farm. So fresh veggies, side starch, and a small animal protein. I love to cook and with help on the farm, I will have more bandwidth to do so. Breakfast and lunch are the responsibility of our guests to care for themselves and to clean their own dishes and wipe down the stove and counters afterward. Fresh chicken, duck, and quail eggs are always available. I am happy to provide food for you but specialty foods will be the responsibility of the guests.
Please note that this is a real small-scale farm so you will have roosters crowing at 2 am, smell animal smells, and get dirty while you are helping. It is not a petting zoo type of farm but a small-scale working farm emphasis on working lol
Things to bring or buy the first day:
Hydroflask for keeping large amounts of water cool and handy (trust me on this)
Earplugs/white noise machine if you are a light sleeper (roosters crow all night)
Sunscreen and bug spray as you are in the tropics ( we keep everything super clean and have bug zappers but all hikes have bugs and even if people have a tan, the sun hits differently here)
Closed-toed shoes but also flip flops (we call them slippahs here)
Shorts with elastic band for ease of movement
Tank tops or yoga tops
Sunhat if you want. I don't use one but I have had guests who really like having theirs
US sim card if your phone is foreign. Walmart carries them here on the island
Your personal soap, shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper (usually 2 rolls per week, you can take the center cardboard out of the rolls to make packing more efficient or there is a store across the street) etc
Laundry soap if you want to use the laundry on-site. I don't charge for the water, power etc but please just buy your own laundry soap etc
What else ...
We live across the street from the beach, the bus line is within 150’ and takes you anywhere on the island but takes a while, hikes across the street, waterfalls within 2 miles, camping is near as well. It’s the countryside in Hawai'i and everything you think it is :)
Expectations are that we are a family so please be well mannered, non-smoker of anything even E-Cigs, not religious, kind, not a partier, communicative, help clean up after meals like good guests, and connected. We want to learn from you as well! I know it sounds like a lot to absorb but we have hosted a lot and know what works and makes everyone happy. COMMUNICATION! Can't wait to have fun!
There is a truck and small sedan available to rent daily or hourly but absolutely no pressure. It’s there if you want but the bus system is too. Most of the time the workaway guests chip in so it doesn’t cost anyone much. Again, this isn’t mandatory or expected. Just if you want. Turo is also an option on the island and getting more affordable but have to rent it by the week etc. It used to be crazy high.
Transportation to and from the airport can be costly if you take Uber or Lyft and the bus is long but cheap. I cannot pick you up. The bus is called The Bus and you can find the routes online. After accepted, I will send my address for you to start planning.
Please reach out to me with any questions or if you see my calendar is filled for the dates you want, I don't mind you reaching out if you just acknowledge that you are aware its booked but just wanted to check to see if any changes have happened.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have high-speed internet and wfh as well. I’m in mortgage and my husband is in marketing. Our kids have virtual school.
Space for parking camper vans
We have free parking available
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (48)
Work:
The work mostly was feeding the animals and watering the plants. The work with the animals was really fun and we really enjoyed it. Especially with the baby ducks and geese because they are the cutest! There was also a lot of cleaning inside the house like sweeping, mopping and cleaning… read more
The work in general is really hard but you get used to it the longer you do it. Therefore… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.9)
Work:
The work mostly was feeding the animals and watering the plants. The work with the animals was really fun and we really enjoyed it. Especially with the baby ducks and geese because they are the cutest! There was also a lot of cleaning inside the house like sweeping, mopping and cleaning… read more
The work in general is really hard but you get used to it the longer you do it. Therefore… read more
They are so welcoming and make you feel included right away.
It’s important to read the description carefully, to know what is expected of you.
The work is quiet hard but really doable and you get a lot in return!
I especially loved the family dinners and Synnora warm manner:)… read more
The work:
Synnora is really helpful by being specific with details, teaching skills, and answering all the questions you might have— even when couch bound by foot surgery! I think I would learn even more when she is back to her normal self running about… read more
Holy cow. It’s almost been a year! I hope you’ve had some amazing adventures since me!! I always wrote thorough notes after someone leaves so I can refer back and I’m so glad I did with you so I can write this review! Nikki was such a strong sweet gal. She’s right, there is animal poo. Or how farmers see it, plant nutrients! We are a… read more
I was with the family for a month over Christmas and New Year's Eve. I was part of the family right from the start.
I really liked the fact that there are regular working hours and that there is still a lot of time to explore the island after work. I loved that there was the opportunity to… read more
I've spent in total 2 months with the family. Although i planned to stay there for only 2 weeks :D but it was too good - and i came back after a stop on Maui.
You really have to read the profile! If that appeals to you, then it's a wonderful family to stay with. I miss my little Meatball, which I… read more
I stayed at Synnoras place for almost three weeks and had such an amazing time with her and her family.
About my work:
i had to work from early in the morning until midday. Most of the time feeding the chickens, watering plants or doing cleaning inside the house. The work was sometimes really hard, but Synnora… read more
As described in the profile, the work can be hard but with all the other workawayers it was also fun.
The family gives you so much that you would never experience otherwise.
We went to a high school basketball game, watched… read more
There would be so many things to say but Synnora already knows all my gratitude for having the opportunity to experience her farm and live with her… read more
I am so grateful that we connected. These two were such a blessing to our family and the livestock and plants. So full of gratitude and ethics! I didn’t have to… read more
I enjoyed working at the farm, watering… read more
About the work, we can agree that it’s a hard work, but it’s all clear and well… read more
Work is 5hrs Mon -… read more
I stayed with her for 2 weeks, 3 weeks would have been great. However, I learned so much in 2 weeks and felt so integrated into the family, that I would say even 2 weeks… read more
She helped play with my little one while educating her. Even after school and on her own time she’d ask to take ayla on adventures. She is an angel. She’s been gone about a year now… read more
best:
- work, that is enjoyable because the tasks make sense, e.g.: you rake the rabbit poo and put it on the high beds afterwards because it's a good manure. then you… read more
She made wire cages to protect new trees, lots of sweeping… read more
Work on the farm could be physically demanding, what with the early hours and primarily animal care, but it was also rewarding in… read more
Thank you for this amazing stay and for this nice beach day with you and… read more
we got a private room downstairs the main house, it was super comfortable and spacious. The bathroom is just outside and shared with the other workawayer bedroom.
The house is on the West shore, the less touristic side of Oahu. In a walking distance from the… read more
There are lots of opportunities to work here for many different skill sets & a wealth of opportunities… read more
From the very moment we arrived we felt incredibly welcomed. Synnora and her family have a contagious joy making it nearly impossible to have anything but a fantastic time. The work was… read more
Most importantly, I want their parent's phone numbers so I can thank them for raising such sweet, respectful, hard-working, and kind people! I know people harp on Millenials but almost every millennial I have met through work… read more
We both stayed in a tent on her deck. She did a great job… read more
