Intern Program

Imagine exploring permaculture, sustainability and intentional community in Hawai’i. 

La’akea Community is a cooperatively-owned intentional community on the big island of Hawai’i. Our farm practices tropical permaculture and devotes special attention to the oft-neglected social dimension of sustainability:  how to live together.  Our electricity comes from the photovoltaic panels on the roof. Our water also comes via our roof into a rainwater catchment system. We started working together over three years ago and currently grow the majority of our food.  We have classes in non-violent communication, co-counseling and other modalities that increase emotional awareness and provide tools for relationships and community living.
We are interested in sharing what we know – helping to educate through experiential learning.

Our internships run four times a year; summer, fall, winter and spring. Our next dates are January 28 - February 24, 2009.  We have been operating a successful work exchange program for three years. Our internship program increases the focus on learning.  Participants will enjoy twelve workshops on permaculture and on communication/interpersonal skills. This is in addition to your daily participation in community life and immersion in permaculture modalities.

Adventure to nearby beaches, snorkel among coral reefs, explore geothermal steam vents and caves, view molten lava and visit other permaculture farms. There will be two organized field trips in addition to self-initiated explorations. 

The fee is $650; which supplies all the delicious food, mostly organic and from the land, and incidentals. Covered camping is the housing– participants supply their own tent and sleeping pad/bag. Twenty hours of labor each week is also expected. The program is limited to ten individuals. 

What others said about the program:

"I'd recommend it to a million and a half people." - Lee

The program was a "conscious learning environment" - Roberto

"I learned so much more than just about permaculture" - Lee & Marta

More about La'akea Community

We are located in the sub-tropical rain forest. It is both a magical and wild place. We receive approx. 150 inches of rain/year, which makes it very green and lush, as well as moldy and mildewy. We are situated at 1200 ft. elevation, which means it is cooler in the morning and evenings (65 degrees or so in winter months) than at sea level.  We live close to nature, and share the land with ants, mice, rats, mongeese, feral pigs, night-chirping coqui frogs,and yes, mosquitoes. (there are also butterflies, free range chickens, ducks, sheep, and 2 sweet cats).

We love this property--it's fertility and abundance, the gentle light and mist, the arching double rainbows, and the warm sunny days that shine on us. We live "off the grid," and rely on solar energy. There is electricity in our main house.

Please copy and paste the application below onto a new e-mail and return to:

laakea@permaculture-hawaii.com 

Thanks

La'akea Community
P.O. Box 1071
Pahoa, Hi 96778
808-443-4076

                                     La'akea Intern Application

Today's date:

Name:

Phone number:

Email:

Date of birth:                          Age:

I am applying for the____________________________ internship (summer, fall, winter, spring)

1)  Why would you like to come to La'akea?

2) What is your experience with gardening, landscaping, building, carpentry, farming, working with animals, computer work, auto mechanic, living off the grid?

Please mention other skills you think we would find valuable.

3) What skills/experience would you like to gain?

4) Describe your educational background.

5) What are some of the challenges you would anticipate if you participated this summer?

6) What's one quality about you that others might find difficult to live with?

7) Do you have any physical, emotional or mental health issues that would impact your ability to contribute to life at La'akea?

8) What is your experience with rustic living/camping/tropical environments?

9) Please provide 2 work references, including email addresses.

10) Is there anything else about yourself that you would like to share so we have a better understanding of who you are?