Gwendolyn Reed enjoys the view while hiking Kalepa Ridge in Hawaii. Photo by Kaiulani Farley
The Nā Pali Coast towers before me, painted in the peachy hues of evening light, sky and sea melting into one. How on earth did I get to the vibrant, ethereal slopes of Kauai?
Two years ago, as a broke college student in her 20s, I longed to experience Hawaii’s coconut palms, sparkling ocean swells and lush flora. But without a high-paying job, I couldn’t afford a trip. Then I discovered work trade, where platforms like Workaway, Worldpackers and WWOOF match people with hosts who “hire” them in exchange for lodging.
The programs allow people like me to immerse themselves in local culture, explore on a budget and connect with other travelers. Volunteers can harvest vineyard grapes in Italy, learn permaculture in Puerto Rico or work at a surf camp in Lisbon.
Read more: Playing tourist on San Antonio’s Riverwalk
I paid $50 for a year-long membership to Workaway that allowed me access to a list of potential hosts that I could contact directly. I wound up staying a few weeks with a woman in Kapa’a— a town on Kauai’s east side.
At her home, I helped with gardening and household chores each day before heading out to adventure. Barefoot and giddy, I picked weeds, planted flowers, cleaned bathrooms, churned compost and fed Homer the turtle.
On Kauai, food is expensive. Luckily, my Workaway stay included shelf space to store food and a kitchen to prep meals. I skipped out on pricey restaurants and budgeted for simple grocery necessities.
Through Rent-a-Wreck Kauai, I rented a 2001 Toyota Echo without air conditioning or a radio but brimming with character. Complete with floral Hawaiian seat covers, the trusty coach got me from point A to point B with no issues and far more money in my pocket.
Gwendolyn Reed traveled to Hawaii and traded chores for a place to stay. Photo courtesy Gwendolyn Reed
Following a few hours of chores each day, I spent my time frolicking around the place of my dreams. I swam in the invigorating waters of Hanakāpīʻai Falls, snorkeled at Hanalei Bay, devoured Holey Grail’s taro donuts and sipped nectar from honeysuckle stems.
This was better than a high-end hotel. I was living locally, giving back and grounding. Bonus? A swimsuit top and straw hat sufficed as work attire. I couldn’t have been happier.
Back on the jagged Nā Pali coastline, the sea crashes and foams beneath me. A friend and I are exploring the hidden Kalepa Ridge Trail. It’s a bushwhacking adventure I’d never have experienced if I hadn’t discovered work trade.
It worked so well that I’m already embarking on another Workaway adventure. This time I’m volunteering with a ceramic artist in Mallorca, Spain.
