Living off-grid, building community, and sleeping under the stars
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On the Big Island of Hawaii, Josh and Tanya are building more than a home—they're shaping a life grounded in simplicity, nature, and connection. Their 20-acre property, rich with fruit trees and rainwater-fed systems, is a space for regeneration—not just of land, but of how life is lived. For years, they lived in a converted bus while tending the land, but the limitations of a temporary setup grew clearer. They needed something more stable—something that could keep up with the life they were choosing to live. Their goal wasn’t about owning property or having a house for the sake of it. It was about having a solid base that let them expand their vision of community, self-reliance, and purpose.
The challenge: moving from temporary to grounded, without losing freedom
Life in the converted bus was simple and raw—it offered freedom and kept them close to the land. But over time, the cracks began to show. The limitations in space, durability, and comfort made it harder to stay long-term. They didn’t want to return to a conventional house or a mortgage. What they wanted was a lasting home that made off-grid living not only possible, but peaceful.
“I don’t want to spend my whole life in a house. I love the idea of having everything you need in your home, but not being trapped there—the world is where we’re supposed to be living.”
The shift: a home that supports life, not one that defines it
The new home wasn’t about going bigger—it was about going deeper. With it came permanence without weight, comfort without excess. It gave them what the bus never could: protection from the elements, space to host and gather, and the stability to keep growing what they started.
It was the moment they stopped thinking about shelter, and started thinking about what life could be when that need was already taken care of.
“To finally sleep on this land, on this spot—it’s magical. We looked up through the windows, and there were stars. It was our first night. I had great dreams.”
The outcome: rooted and free at the same time
Now, each day starts with intention. Josh clears new forest paths. Tanya works in the garden. Guests come and stay in the yurts nearby. The house isn’t the center of attention—it’s the center of gravity. A base from which everything else can expand: food, friendships, ideas.
There’s no need to “get away from it all” when you live in alignment with it.
“Today was the first day I could go into the forest and start planting. Because now I have a base. I have a home.”
What mattered most in the end
- Living lightly: No debt. No oversized house. Just what’s needed to live well, and nothing more.
- Belonging to land, not just living on it: Their home allows them to participate in the land, not escape from it.
- Space to grow, not just store: Designed around movement, openness, and community—not things.
- Stability without stagnation: A permanent home that supports a flexible, regenerative lifestyle.
“Tiny living or minimalist living frees you to do what you really want to do.”
Today was the first day I could go into the forest and start planting. Because now I have a base. I have a home
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