Position Title: Farm Crew Member
Job Type: Full-time at 40 hours per week – Full Time Equivalency: 1.0
Compensation: $40,000-$50,000 per year salary, commensurate with experience
Reports to: Farm Manager & Co-Directors
Start Date: February 2026
Overview of the Hawaiʻi Institute of Pacific Agriculture:
HIP Agriculture is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in North Kohala, Hawaiʻi. Our mission is to practice and teach regenerative agriculture through farm to school education, farmer training, and ecosystem restoration. On our certified organic farm, we cultivate 1.5 acres of market gardens, 6 acres of orchards, 2 acres of agroforestry, and three greenhouses producing diverse crops including vegetables, citrus, ‘ulu, avocados, ‘awa, bananas, papaya, tropical fruits, and staple canoe crops.
Position Summary:
The Farm Crew Member supports daily farm production and sales while contributing to a collaborative, educational farm environment. This role is primarily hands-on, working alongside the Farm Manager, staff, and apprentices to grow, harvest, and prepare high-quality produce while upholding HIP Ag’s soil-centered and community-focused farming practices. The Farm Crew Member plays an essential role in keeping the farm running smoothly, safely, and efficiently.
Key Responsibilities:
- Production & Field Work:
- Assist with planting, cultivating, and maintaining crops across the market garden, orchard, greenhouse, and agroforestry systems
- Support soil health practices including compost application, mulching, cover cropping, and crop rotation
- Participate in harvesting, washing, packing, and preparing produce for Waimea Farmers Market, Kohala Food Hub, and local buyers
- Help monitor crop health, irrigation, and weather impacts, and flag issues to the Farm Manager
- Post-Harvest & Sales Support:
- Assist with harvest timing, quality control, and post-harvest handling
- Help prepare produce for delivery and market days
- Support accurate tracking of harvests and basic production data for farm records and organic compliance
- Team & Learning Environment:
- Work alongside staff and Residential Apprenticeship Program (RAP) participants in the field
- Contribute to a positive, respectful, and supportive learning environment
- Follow direction, ask questions, and engage in learning new techniques and systems
- Support safety, organization, and good communication on the farm
- Tools, Equipment & Infrastructure:
- Use hand tools, irrigation systems, and farm equipment safely and properly
- Help with basic maintenance, cleaning, and organization of tools, greenhouse, and work areas
- Report equipment or infrastructure issues to the Farm Manager
- Community & Farm Culture:
- Occasionally assist with farm tours, educational days, or farmers market activities
- Help uphold HIP Ag’s values of land stewardship, reciprocity, and community care in daily work
- Represent HIP Ag respectfully when interacting with visitors, customers, and partners
Qualifications:
- 1–3+ years of hands-on farm experience in organic, natural, or regenerative agriculture
- Experience working in at least one of the following: market gardens, orchards, agroforestry systems, or greenhouse production
- Experience working on a farm team, with interns, apprentices, or in a collaborative field setting
- Willingness to learn and grow within a diversified tropical farm environment
Skills & Attributes:
- Strong work ethic, reliability, and attention to detail
- Ability to follow direction while also working independently when needed
- Positive, collaborative communication style
- Curiosity and openness to learning new farming methods and systems
- Basic understanding of organic farming principles and food safety standards
- Comfort working with hand tools, irrigation systems, and basic farm equipment
- Alignment with HIP Ag’s values of community health, reciprocity with the land, and respect for indigenous knowledge
Work Environment:
- Must be able to lift 50 pounds and work outdoors year-round in varying weather.
- Must be able to work 8-hours in the field performing physical activities.
Terms & Compensation:
This is a full-time position to begin February 2026. This is a salaried position with a salary range of $40,000-$50,000 per year, commensurate with experience.
Application Process:
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for three references via email to programs@hipagriculture.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please include “Farm Crew Member – [Your Name]” in the subject line.
