In the lush rainforest of Hawai’i’s Big Island, a small group of people has created a way of life that’s rooted in the land. At La’akea Community, residents live off-grid, grow their own food, and build their own homes using some materials harvested from the property.

With a thriving food forest and tropical gardens, they’ve learned to rely on crops that flourish in this climate—taro instead of potatoes, jaboticaba in place of grapes, and greens like Ethiopian kale and edible hibiscus. Sometimes, they even go a full month eating only what they’ve grown.

Since buying the land in 2005, the community has built most of the structures themselves using sustainable techniques. They harvest rainwater, generate solar power, compost their waste and sewage, and share meals, tools, and daily tasks in a cooperative, family-style setup. To become a member, newcomers first live and work on the land for six months.

After that, joining requires a one-time $35,000 buy-in and monthly dues of just $250—low enough that most members don’t need full-time jobs. Some work just one month a year, thanks to how fully the land supports their needs.

We visited La’akea to explore how this intentional community blends simple living, shared ownership, and deep connection to the natural world in one of the most fertile—and wild—places on Earth.