Work From the Beach? Hawaii is Handing Out Free Trips to New Yorkers

If the big-city grind is burning you out, perhaps what you need is a change of scenery. Here to help is Hawaii’s tourism department, which is offering a one-week, all-inclusive residency to six hardworking professionals from New York City, as Travel+Leisure spotted.

The new program, called Work From Hawaii, is run by Hawaii Tourism United States (HTUSA), the marketing contractor for the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The package—valued at $10,000—includes round-trip airfare from New York City, an eight-day stay in one of six locations in Hawaii, access to a workspace, and additional activities related to food, culture, and adventure.

Slated for September 2018, each of the residencies is tailored to a different profession. App developers can get inspired at a high-tech lab overlooking Maui, while musicians can record from a sound studio on the Big Island of Hawaii, and writers can take respite in quiet Molokai. There are also opportunities for designers, photographers, and entrepreneurs located on Oahu, Kauai, and Lanai.

In addition to living and working in one of New York City’s five boroughs, qualified applicants must be between the ages of 24 and 36. They also need to have a public Instagram account, as they will be asked to share their experiences on social media. According to the official rules, the six winners will be chosen by a panel of judges based on categories like their social media presence, enthusiasm about the prize, and "suitability for promotional use." The application form asks about your work background, what projects you would work on if chosen, and “why working from Hawaii would help you come back better at your craft.”

A poll by HTUSA of 1000 Americans revealed that 60 percent of millennials have worked while on vacation, and 83 percent say they feel more productive when they work outside of a traditional office setting. The Work From Hawaii program “celebrates the career-minded traveler —especially New Yorkers, who do everything in service of their hustle,” Jay Talwar, Senior Vice President of Hawaii Tourism United States, said in a statement.

While the pilot program is limited to residents of New York City, the tourism agency hopes it could someday be adopted in other cities. Until then, all of the suggested itineraries can be booked by the general public starting in October.

Ready to say aloha to a new office near the beach? You can apply online here. Applications close June 4.

[h/t Travel+Leisure]