We are a small macadamia nut farm with a few other crops for sale or consume on the farm.

Hawaii

19 reviews • Updated 4 months ago

Our mission: To establish, maintain and grow a tropical park-like sustainable garden. Quickly: This is a simple beautiful tropical retreat like farm that invites you to experience nature and yourself. We also harvest macadamia nuts, dragon fruit, white pineapple and bananas as our cash crops. The oil palm, avocado, coconut palm, mango trees are just the start to a geodesic experience. I almost forgot the various clumps of bamboo and vast growths of monstera deliciosa for added effect and we’re located in one of the safest places in the world. The Honaunau District just South of Captain Cook, Hawaii (Big Island). Your housing is a modest but clean two bedroom apartment with a shared full bath, the clubhouse room has WiFi, big screen TV and an outside kitchen. We even have hot and cold running water. .You will be expected to keep this living space clean and organized on your time. This is about as good as it gets for volunteering in Hawaii. You’re signing up to work sixteen hours a week. We usually work four mornings for four hours Monday through Thursday. Your tasks will include harvesting and processing the crops mentioned above, weeding, farm maintenance tasks and often getting one time projects closer to completion. You will help with plant propagation at most levels. We do have gasoline and electrical tools that you may operate based on your comfort level. “I’m not comfortable with this.” is the “Safe Phrase” for the farm. The rest of the time is yours. Enjoy this life while you can. You will see how keeping out of nature’s way for the most part has many wonderful rewards. Still Interested?: From the very beginning! We can see Place of Refuge National Park with the adjoining beach from the lanai (front porch in Hawaii). We came here for the beautiful weather, views and tropical lifestyle opportunities. We assume this is an important part of your decision to come here as well. This farm is maintained without the use of harsh chemicals which require lots of hands-on work. That's where you come in. Please don't, for a moment, think this is a no-brainer process. Some people want to do big heavy lifting whilst making grunting sounds while others just want to master nut picking or garden bed beautification. Intellectuals are welcome but expect physical exertion much of the time. Pick nuts or pull weeds for four hours and tell me it isn't meditative. If it isn’t then you’re just not doing it right. Okay; We don’t do any one thing for four hours straight as that would be just too much like a JOB. Growth is a personal choice. If you want to learn about agriculture, landscape machinery, housing maintenance and repair, alternative energy programs or maybe easier gardening we will endeavor to help you become more competent through self study and the experiential process (getting your hands dirty). Our insurance does not allow some hands-on applications. You really should buy the insurance offered by this Web Service no matter where you help out. If you are not interested in the farming / gardening process and just want to return home after a cheap vacation in Hawaii – We Get It! But we still expect good focused work. If you don’t want to work then maybe you should pony up the $200 a day loss leader hotel fees. Joan and I live a private quiet life and aren't really interested in coordinating meals or groceries with others. We do go shopping weekly and you are welcome to ride along with us or we'll pick up a few items you may want to purchase. You're welcome to eat most of what we grow on the farm and we keep bags of beans, brown rice, onions, oatmeal and occasionally market bought fruits and vegetables available for your consumption. Macadamia nuts can only carry you so far. Farm products that generate income are often reserved to pay for farming practices, utilities, taxes and other such distractions. Some things like papaya and avocado to mention the most available are shared. We rarely sell the bananas so when a bunch comes in you may be asked to eat upwards of six bananas a day. Some Januarys will give us more tangerines and tangelos than a football team could use and other years - Nada. If you write that you speak ""OK"" English and then when you arrive at the airport from Russia and we have to do sign language or rely on my nine word Español vocabulary to get your bags in the back of the truck we just may have a problem. If you write that your English is ""OK"" and you're coming to the farm to expand your language skills then we'd expect new words each week supported by flash cards or some such study system. If we can't teach you how to use a pick (forwards tool) or a shovel (backwards tool) we won't try to teach you about good plant vs. unwanted plant. Whether you're a native speaker of English or not you will need to learn some 15 or more plant varieties and their names in the first week of your stay. Hey! – How about you teach us the Latin names? Few things say “big time farmer” more than Latin terminology. Farming at our level is not brain science or rocket surgery but it does require some strenuous focused physical effort. We offer comfortable amenities with lots of time for yourself to explore and enjoy the big island of Hawaii. Please be ready to give as you wish to receive. We want you to understand this: We regard this description and our emails as a contract. Joan and Casey Winter 2024 - 2025 Projects: Finishing up converting a 20,000 gallon (80,000 liter) swimming pool into a swimming pond. We would like to see this project completed. This is an organic pond with plants, fish and biological filters to keep it pretty and safe. SNUBA (SNorkle Underwater Breathing Apparatus) and other learning opportunities will be available. I’ve posted a couple of photos for your review. We will be restoring the pineapple beds. We will be tuning-up the dragon fruit walls. Yes, safety gear is supplied. FAQs: Are there places and things to do within walking distance? - It is the big island of Hawaii for Goodness sake. There’s probably a week of photo taking on this farm alone. Painted Church Road is a safer place to walk or run. I don’t recommend bicycles on this island. Overview: The Painted Church, Paleaku Botanical Gardens, The Bee Museum, Kealakekua Bay, Manini Beach, Captain Cook Monument and Trail, The Sunday Farmer’s Market at Captain Cook, Place of Refuge and Two Step Beach on Honaunau Bay are all fairly walkable from the farm. Oh! Hitching works but should always be a team sport during the hours of daylight. Short stays? - We've come to realize that the first visit needs to be at least a months stay because of training times. Yes; People do return. Does everyone have to work? - Yes! On farms, everyone contributes. You just might be eligible for the SNAP program. Alcohol and Tobacco Use? - Illegal drugs are not welcome on the farm. Tobacco is not welcome but is tolerated outside and down wind. (Is there anything worse than a reformed user?) Volunteers: We kinda prefer couples or good friends and three-plus groups are great. If two or more of you are interested please get a message to us. We’ve had up to six people here at once. We do schedule single travelers so go ahead and give us a try. Camp Aloha Farms is on a leasehold property. We have agreed to pursue agriculture. We intend to honor this mandate with our non-profit lessor. WARNING: - If you are travelling on a Tourist Visa we urge you to understand your Visa requirements. US Customs knows of the Camp Aloha Farms program. Nice people with Visas do get deported from the United States. Sometimes “Reality” is harsh.

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Fruit or nut farming

Aquaculture

Mechanics / tools / technology

Methods or systems

Aquaponics

Biological pest control

Hydroponics

No-till farming

Mentoring opportunities

Veteran-operated

Host type

Self-sufficiency property

2 Hectares | 5 Acres

WWOOF-Verified

Accommodation

4+ WWOOFers

Cabin / Mobile-home

Children not accepted

Pets not accepted

Meals

Omnivore

Length of stay

Over a month

Casey

Member since 2019

Languages spoken: English Response rate: 95% Response time: typically within 5 days

November 2025

Open

Planned visit

Closed

MapLibre | Protomaps | © OpenStreetMap

Hawaii

Kona, Hawaii Airport

Reviews

Liv

United States • October 2025

My partner and I had a good experience here. Joan and Casey were very accommodating. The living accommodations were nice as well. Most of the work involved picking mac nuts, heavy weeding and land management, and working on some building projects. We were able to enjoy our time in Hawaii during our stay. Casey is very knowledgeable about many different subjects and he shared his knowledge with us.

Kerri

United States • August 2025

I got to spend two weeks here and it was a dream! I would explain all the amenities, but Casey has already said it all. And it is as good as it sounds. My favorite part about WWOOFing there this time around was getting to work on a cottage with termite damage and learning a little about plumbing as well. It’s a great opportunity to become more familiar with different tools and skills, as Casey will teach you, and make you laugh along the way. Casey and Joan are generous with the farm produce as well. And there are many things to try!! So good. So if you’re looking to learn new skills, try amazing fruit, and have a comfortable stay, this is the place for you!

Reply from Casey

Aloha Kerri, Thank you for the nice words and the great help you gave us at the farm and the attack on the termites. Casey

Starla

United States • August 2025

This has been a wonderful farm to WWOOF on! Besides being stunningly beautiful, the hosts are so knowledgeable and patient. The farm is lush with many types of local produce available to workers. I am very grateful to have been able to WWOOF here.

Reply from Casey

Thanks Starla. You are welcome.

Ellie

United States • June 2025

Mr Casey and Mrs Joan are wonderful hosts. I learned a lot from Casey who is very knowledgeable. The fruit is amazing and the work is rewarding. I recommend renting a car as the road wasn’t the best for walking/biking but the beaches and town are close by. They are kind, generous, and I would definitely go back

Reply from Casey

Aloha Ellie, Thank you for your help. Yes, we are in the sticks and transportation is challenging. I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. We look forward to working with you as well. Casey

Gabe

United States • March 2025

Staying here with Casey and Joan was a great experience. The work schedule gives you a lot of free time to explore the island and Casey is very passionate about getting things done and teaching you how to do it. The work schedule can also be flexible when life happens, as long as you are giving the minimum hours for the week.

Reply from Casey

Thank you Gabe, Your coconut in the South Mauka corner is still alive and doing far better than its previous two sisters. Your forgiving attitude really helped me get through a couple of struggle kind of days. Casey

Shelly

United States • March 2025

Casey and Joan were excellent, generous, and kind hosts. Casey is open minded and patient and cares about facilitating an experience where WOOFers get to learn and enjoy their time in Hawaii. His expectations are fair and the work schedule is ideal if you are interested in taking advantage of your free time to explore. It is clear that Casey and Joan enjoy hosting and meeting new people and offered advice and suggestions for places to explore on the island. I would highly recommend their camp and anyone would be lucky to have the opportunity to stay there.

Reply from Casey

Aloha Shelly, Thanks for your help. I really appreciate your keeping your two friends on task and productive. We'd love to have you all back sometime. Casey