Internship Opportunity

RESEARCH INTERN

Company Description

Ulupono Initiative is a Hawai‘i-focused impact investment firm founded in 2009 to improve the quality of life for the people of Hawai‘i by working toward sustainable solutions that support and promote locally produced food, renewable energy, clean transportation choices, and a thriving water future.

Job Description

In this part-time internship, the individual will be undertaking a variety of deep listening and field research tasks in support of developing a data actor map for water data in Hawai‘i. Under staff direction, the ideal candidate would be familiar with Kumu (kumu.io) software and be able to undertake systems-based research to further Ulupono’s freshwater strategy. The individual would also be able to turn this research into written policy memos, bringing strong syntheses and developing recommendations for next steps. During this internship, the individual would learn about cross-cutting water governance issues at the state and local levels.

Responsibilities

• Data actor map development support
• Participation in meetings with water leaders and water agencies
• Research related to water knowledge in Hawai‘i and beyond
• Policy memo writing
• Other duties as required

Qualifications

This is a paid, fixed-term semester placement, suitable for students currently studying a degree course in a field related to Hawaiian water management, hydrology, water governance, sustainability and/or looking for practical experience to complement their studies.

Preferred:

• Degree in hydrology, Hawaiian studies, geology, natural resource management, planning, environmental studies, or similar areas
• Strong interest in our sectors and improving the wellbeing of water in Hawai‘i
• Familiarity with Kumu
• Well organized and can work independently
• Attention to detail

Additional desired qualifications include:

• Knowledge of the hydrologic data collection and organization
• Interest in furthering Hawai‘i’s sustainability and resilience

How to Apply

Please submit your resume to communications@ulupono.com. Deadline for applications is August 22, 2025.

Salary: Dependent on experience at $25-35/hour; part-time