Work Exchange/Intern Opportunities at La'akea Community

Part of the vision at La'akea is to provide opportunities for people to come to La'akea; to spread the experience of living in an intentional community, to educate about permaculture, and to teach personal development skills. In exchange, we receive the benefit of additional labor, outside perspective and new friends.

Click here for information on the Summer '08 Intern Program!

Work Program: Work exchangers will be given tasks related to sustainable food/fiber production (tropical fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, greenhouses, animal systems, coconut tree climbing and harvesting, bamboo and other timber crops, natural building structures, food preparation, and possibly additional projects such as biodiesel/veggie oil fuel projects, landscape design, solar energy projects, and others.) Work exchangers/interns are required to work a minimum of 14 hours per week. Work exchangers/interns will also assist with two meals a week, a weekly cleaning party and attend our weekly meetings if possible. While we encourage work exchangers to plug in more than that and to create projects beyond their 14 hour commitment, we realize that some may need to work additional hours to pay their expenses at La'akea and that free time and solitude are valuable uses of personal time.

Community Education Program: Work Exchangers are encouraged to participate in community events and activities such as: community meetings (2 per week), Forum, Non-Violent communication, re-evaluation counseling, yoga, massage, educational and artistic presentations. Our belief at La'akea is that sustainability means much more than just permaculture techniques and material self-sufficiency. We focus on personal and emotional growth through community support as an integral part of sustainability.

Cost: The cost is calculated to account for food, energy and other consumable items such as soap, shampoo, etc. The current fee amount is $12/day.

Site: La'akea is a 23+ acre property at 1300 foot elevation, on the lush east side of the Big Island of Hawaii. We are located 4 miles from the town of Pahoa and about 6 miles from the ocean. We regularly go to a beautiful black sand beach. Other attractions in the area include: Volcano National Park with active lava flows to the ocean, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa mountains (over 13,000 feet), natural steam vents, warm ponds, tide pools for snorkeling, Pohoiki beach for surfing, other permaculture sites and intentional communities. Temperatures range between 80's during the day and 60's at night. We receive over 100 inches of rain per year.