Share your time and passions with our family on Garden Island, Hawaii, USA

Infos

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  Description

  We are a family with three kids living in a stunning valley on the north shore of Kauai, Hawaii's Garden Island.
  
  For the last six years, we've lived collaboratively with 2-4 long-term guests at a time. It has enriched our lives immensely; many guests have become extended family members. We build out the land, learn from each other, and give back to the island community.
  
  To join us, you'll want to reflect on the following:
  
  1) We are not looking for nannies or au-pairs and don't want childcare. Yet, children should be around adults who have a genuine interest in helping them grow. If you are primarily looking for a place to stay while collecting fun experiences in Hawaii, and don't mind having kids around, but don't care either way, then we will not be a good fit for you.
  
  You should have a strong desire to be a fully present and positive role model for others, including our middle school-aged children. It takes intention, passion, patience, and skill. We are a family open to co-creators and collaborators who want to both learn and give.
  
  2) You have a passion for doing things well, with intention and beauty. We have many ongoing endeavors (building, farming, cooking, etc) that require high-quality execution and follow-through. We have in-house skills in various trades and are happy to teach attentive guests eager to learn and grow - provided they have a can-do, MacGyver-like mindset. Healthy boundaries and balance are important to us, but as many reviews have said or implied, a "clocking in and out mindset" doesn't work here.
  
  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 each other, and it also allows you to take on responsibilities and see projects through to the end.
  
  The best way to think about living with us is to consider yourself joining both a family and a small evolving community that aims high, using structure and routine to maintain good habits and raise healthy children (and adults).
  
  Guests generally help with several things.
  1) Landscaping, building, gardening, and painting.
  2) Special projects such as helping create a greywater system, installing solar hot water panels, and building new decks.
  2) Office and logistics help.
  3) Research-type projects.
  
  In the garden, we aim to replicate parts of the "Dervaes Family Farm" which you can google.
  
  Some important things to note:
  
  We make a point of living as a small community / big family. On weekdays, as the sun rises, everyone is expected to join us for an early morning 10-minute quiet sitting and stretch, followed by breakfast at 7 am. We usually cook three times a week on a MWF schedule and stock the fridge with prepared food that we can easily reheat before meals.
  
  Outside of your communal responsibility for food prep, common area cleaning, and joining for weekday breakfasts and dinners, we ask guests to ensure they complete 25 hours a week of efficient, productive work.
  
  We live near one of the best places to learn to surf on the islands and can usually get you to a beach every day. Sometimes that is the 4-minute drive to a lovely swimming and snorkeling beach, and other times we'll go further east or west to Ha'ena or Hanalei (which has the closest bus stop).
  
  Our street is narrow and windy, with no sidewalks. Our location is a designated overnight tourist-free zone. We consider it especially important to deeply respect the neighbors and the difficult history of these islands. The tourist industry has made it easy to forget that Hawaii remains an occupied kingdom. For these reasons, there is no hitchhiking, walking, running, or biking to or from our house. This will make much more sense after you've seen and experienced our unique and beautiful location. Our valley is truly stunning.
  
  On weekends, guests sometimes take the $2 bus from Hanalei, or have pitched in on a monthly car rental (about $900) to explore the island more extensively. So far, four guests have bought used cars, which we'll help resell if needed.
  
  If we sound like a family you'd like to connect with and support, please tell us more about yourself, your specific skills, experience, aspirations, and anything else that helps us better get to know you.
  
  Many Thanks!

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Bénévolat

  Projets artistiques

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Enseignement

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général

  Aide informatique/internet
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  We're unusual in that we feel so strongly about living in a more communal way - with several languages between us. Here, the kitchen table seats 8 to 10. Our family is a mix of Irish American and Northern Thai.

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  Projets impliquant des enfants

  Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.

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  Aide

  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 spending time with them (but not as babysitters, au-pairs, or nannies).
  
  4) An ability to keep your phone in your pocket when around the kids.
  
  5) A sincere interest in living communally and giving/sharing with others - while giving back to the wider community.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Espagnol: Intermédiaire
  Thai: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  We''re always looking for guests wanting to practice and expand their Spanish and/or Thai.
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  Hébergement

  It really depends on who is staying with us at the time. In many cases, we have a first come, first choice policy, though often take stage of life into account. Most people stay in either of several extra rooms. Be prepared to share a room, but rarely is that necessary as we have a lot of space.

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  Autres infos...

  Research the north shore of Kauai, and you'll get a sense of the stunning beauty.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  Yes, we have fast internet and some guests attend school or work remotely online.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Nombre d'heures attendues

  5 hours a day, 5 days a week.

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