A Work Trade Experience Rooted in Permaculture
For Jeanne, Rainbow Bridge Hawaiʻi stood out because of its permaculture projects, abundant land-based work, and welcoming community. As she and her partner began their journey around the world, starting at Rainbow Bridge felt like the right first step.
Finding Community While Traveling as a Couple
Unlike her past experiences as a solo traveler, Jeanne noticed that work trading with her partner gave her a different kind of support. Solo travelers often spend more energy trying to meet people and build connections. With her partner by her side, Jeanne felt she could lean on him when needed, which gave her more energy to intentionally connect with others and participate fully in community life.
Learning Through Garden Days, Cooking, and Tropical Fruit
One of the highlights of Jeanne’s work trade experience in Hawaiʻi has been learning how to use new tropical fruits, including breadfruit and jackfruit. These are skills she plans to bring into her everyday life long after leaving Rainbow Bridge. She also discovered a new appreciation for cooking with coconut oil.
“I never realized how good that smells when you’re cooking with onions!” she shared.
During her time at Rainbow Bridge Hawaiʻi, Jeanne naturally gravitated toward garden activities, cooking, and cleaning. But she also noted that people who are looking for harder, sweatier, hands-on work will find plenty of exciting opportunities here, too. With a wide range of projects happening on the land, Rainbow Bridge makes an effort to help work traders find the kind of work that fits them best.
Hands-On Sustainability Projects at Rainbow Bridge
Some of those projects include larger sustainability efforts, like the hydro dam, which creates electricity from the flowing water on the land. For anyone interested in permaculture, off-grid living, gardening, or sustainable community life, there is always something to learn and contribute to.
Life on Big Island Beyond the Work Trade
Jeanne especially enjoyed Garden Days and swimming in the waterfalls on the land. These moments helped her feel connected not only to the community, but also to the natural beauty of Big Island.
She also noted that life on Big Island has a very alternative style, from ecstatic dance to nude beaches. For open-minded travelers, this can be part of what makes the experience so memorable and expansive.
Jeanne’s Advice for Future Hawaiʻi Work Traders
For those considering a Hawaiʻi work trade, Jeanne encourages people to look into Rainbow Bridge because of the abundance of projects, the intentional community, and the support work traders receive in finding what works for them.
“The positive energy and people here are amazing,” she said.
Want to hear more about Jeanne’s experience in her own words? Watch her Rainbow Bridge Hawaiʻi work trade video testimonial.
For Jeanne, Rainbow Bridge Hawaiʻi was more than a place to volunteer. It was an inviting start to a larger journey, a place to learn new skills, deepen connection, and experience a different way of living.