11 Summer Internships for High School Students in Hawaii
If you are a high school student, internships are one of the most impactful ways to build professional experience early on. Internships help you strengthen your resume, develop confidence, and enhance your college applications. They also help you develop skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Importantly, internships give you a chance to test out potential career paths before choosing a college major or committing to long-term goals.
What internships are available to high school students in Hawaii?
High school students in Hawaii can participate in internships in a range of fields, including STEM, education, neuroscience, healthcare, and more. Organizations ranging from the Hawaii State Department of Education and Hawaii Pacific Health to sustainability-focused nonprofits like the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation provide experience in fields such as agroecology, clean energy, and marine science. Because Hawaii’s professional culture prioritizes interpersonal relationships and community-based collaboration, you will gain a head start in building a local professional network that is critical for long-term career stability in the islands.
To help you narrow your search, we’ve selected 11 summer internships for high school students in Hawaii.
1. Project Hōkūlani – Summer Internship Track
Location: Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, Lānaʻi
Stipend: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~110 students statewide
Dates: Summer (June–July); includes a 40-hour internship and a final Hōʻike presentation on July 26
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school students attending a public, private, or charter school in Hawaiʻi (Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Maui, Lānaʻi, or Hawaiʻi Island) and in grades 9–12 in the fall
In the Project Hōkūlani Summer Internship Track, you’ll complete a 40-hour, paid internship at a local site on your island, giving you direct exposure to real community and professional settings. You’ll work alongside mentors who guide you through tasks, site-specific projects, and responsibilities that build practical skills. Throughout the program, you collaborate with other students and community partners, gaining insight into career pathways across Hawaiʻi. You also prepare for the Hōʻike presentation, where you share what you learned and reflect on your experience.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; 100% financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; 70–100 students
Dates: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter cohorts available
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students who can commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships places you in a remote internship with an early-stage or rapidly growing start-up. You’ll work directly with a company manager in fields such as technology, AI and machine learning, health tech, marketing, journalism, or consulting. Your projects involve real responsibilities that help you develop practical skills while contributing to ongoing work. Because many partner organizations operate in fast-paced environments, you gain insight into the everyday challenges of start-up life. Throughout the internship, you collaborate with industry professionals, build workplace skills, and wrap up with a final presentation summarizing your contributions. The program is fully virtual, allowing you to participate from anywhere while gaining meaningful professional experience.
3. Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship & Training Fund – Career Connections Summer Internship
Location: Multiple islands across Hawaiʻi (Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi County, Maui County, Kauaʻi County - at participating high schools and job sites)
Stipend: $15/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies based on employer availability
Dates: Six-week internship between June and July
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: High school seniors and recent graduates who are at least 16 years old (16-year-olds need a work permit) | Enrolled at a Career Connections–participating high school | Completed or currently completing Skills Level 2 (BC2 or RCC1 equivalent)
If you’re a high school student interested in hands-on work, the trades, or simply figuring out whether construction is the right path for you, this internship gives you a real-world look at what it's like to work on an active jobsite. You’ll train with professionals in carpentry, drywall, and millwright work, and spend your days shadowing journeyworkers and supervisors while learning how different tasks come together on a construction project. Before you start, you’ll complete OSHA-10 training plus First Aid and CPR certifications, all tuition-free.
4. Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) Summer Student Internships
Location: State offices, complex area offices, and selected elementary/middle schools across Hawaiʻi
Stipend: Paid (varies by placement, not publicly disclosed)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies by location
Dates: May – July
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are at least 16 years old and enrolled in a HIDOE high school or Community School for Adults
Through the HIDOE Summer Student Internships, you can gain practical experience in fields such as agriculture, business management, culinary arts, education, and therapeutic services. You’ll work in state offices, complex area offices, or elementary and middle schools, where you’ll support daily operations and learn both technical and employability skills. During the internship, you can expect to practice communication, organization, and problem-solving while contributing to real tasks and projects. Many placements allow you to observe professionals, assist with ongoing initiatives, or participate in school-based programs that serve local communities. Because each site has different needs, your responsibilities may vary, giving you exposure to a range of workplace environments.
5. STEMworks Innovation Internship Program
Location: Statewide (Hawaii-based host companies; some virtual elements)
Stipend: Paid, amount not publicly disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive; 60–90 students
Dates: June 9 – July 18 (tentative)
Application Deadline: April 11 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students who are Hawaii residents or attend a Hawaii-based school | STEMworks high school students and alumni; non-STEMworks students may apply, but are not guaranteed placement
Through the STEMworks Innovation Internship, you’ll spend six weeks working on real STEM projects for local Hawaii companies and organizations. The internship matches you with a host company based on your skills, where you’ll do 20 hours of weekly project work in fields such as engineering, computer science, GIS, media production, marine science, and more. Each week, you’ll also join expert-led professional development sessions that focus on career readiness, college preparation, and workplace skills. Throughout the internship, you’ll complete tasks like data collection, design work, prototyping, programming, or media creation, depending on your placement. You’ll receive mentorship from industry professionals while tracking your progress through weekly timesheets and reports.
6. Hawai‘i Pacific Health – Health Careers Summer Internship
Location: Oʻahu and Kauaʻi - at HPH’s network of medical centers
Cost/Stipend: Paid, amount not publicly disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; roughly, 50–60 students per cohort
Dates: Oʻahu: June 16 – July 25; Kauaʻi: June 16 – July 24 (Tentative)
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors residing on or attending school in Hawaiʻi
In this internship, you’ll spend six weeks working full-time at one of Hawaiʻi Pacific Health’s hospitals or clinics on Oʻahu or Kauaʻi, gaining firsthand exposure to how hospital systems operate. You’ll rotate through either patient-care or non–patient-care departments, giving you a look at health-care professions and the teamwork involved in delivering care. Throughout the program, you’ll learn practical skills such as hospital workflow, professional communication, patient support (where applicable), and the behind-the-scenes operations of a medical institution. The internship is designed to help you explore a variety of healthcare careers and understand which roles might suit you best.
7. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Available across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $3,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20 – 45 students
Dates: June – August (8 weeks; flexible schedule)
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the internship
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a paid environmental science internship for high school students that provides a practical introduction to aquatic research and environmental work. Throughout eight weeks, you’ll team up with fisheries scientists and mentors on field-based activities like fish sampling, habitat assessments, and water quality studies. Your mentor guides you through every step of the research process, from gathering data to interpreting results, while helping you learn about careers in fisheries biology and conservation. The program emphasizes hands-on, applied learning, showing how field research informs environmental management and conservation practices.
8. Hele Imua – State of Hawaiʻi Internship Program
Location: Statewide (Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Kauaʻi)
Stipend: Paid, exact amount/hourly rate not publicly disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies by Island
Dates: 12-week internship offered year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling, depending on the cohort
Eligibility: Currently enrolled students in a public high school or who have earned a diploma or its equivalent within one year of applying for the internship | Aged 16+ | Hawaiʻi resident | Cumulative GPA 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
If you want an on-the-job experience inside Hawaiʻi’s state government, the Hele Imua Internship gives you a paid, hands-on introduction to high-demand careers across multiple state departments. As a high school student, you’ll work in a state agency where you can learn workplace skills and explore potential career paths through day-to-day project work. You may assist with administrative tasks, research, data entry, program support, or shadow professionals in the department where you’re placed. Since the program is designed to help you transition into Hawaiʻi’s workforce, you’ll get an inside look at how state agencies operate and what it’s like to work in public service.
9. NASA OSTEM Internships
Location: Multiple NASA centers across the U.S; Virtual options available
Stipend: Paid based on academic level and program duration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; over 2,000 students annually
Dates: Early June – August (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Full-time high school students who are U.S. citizens, have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and are at least 16 years old
The NASA OSTEM Internship Program gives high school students the chance to take part in real scientific and engineering work at NASA centers or through virtual placements. During the program, you’ll collaborate with NASA scientists, engineers, and researchers on projects in areas like space science, aeronautics, engineering, technology innovation, space microbiology, and ecology. Your tasks may involve designing experiments, studying data from space missions, or helping develop new technologies that advance NASA’s mission. Each internship centers on a defined short-term project, allowing you to build hands-on STEM experience while learning directly from professionals in the field.
10. Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives – High School Internship Program (Rep. Matsumoto’s Office)
Location: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; typically, small cohort size
Dates: Varies by legislative session and office needs (typically aligned with the Hawaiʻi legislative session)
Application Deadline: Rolling/Year–round; Primary Legislative Session: late November or early December
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors in good academic standing
If you’re a high school student interested in government or public service, this internship places you directly inside a working office at the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives. You may help with legislative support tasks such as researching bills, tracking issues, and summarizing information for your legislator. You’ll gain experience with constituent services by drafting letters, preparing newsletter material, or assisting with community events like neighborhood board meetings or public gatherings. Depending on your schedule, you may continue through the end of the legislative session and support daily office operations such as filing, phone assistance, and visitor reception. Throughout the internship, you’ll gain first-hand insight into how policy decisions are made.
11. Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience – Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: Honolulu, HI (In-person only)
Cost/Stipend: $49 nonrefundable application fee / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 2–3 high school students per summer
Dates: June 14 – August 16 (tentative)
Application Deadline: March 28 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who must submit an additional cover letter proving their readiness for a professional medical environment
In the Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience Summer Internship Program, you’ll spend two months working alongside neuroscientists and medical researchers studying conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. You’ll attend lectures, collect data, and collaborate with your research group under the guidance of faculty mentors and medical student leaders. The program focuses on hands-on clinical research, giving you experience with patient interaction, data analysis, and teamwork in a fast-paced medical environment. Throughout the summer, you’ll also join professional development sessions and prepare a research poster for a competitive presentation judged by the Dean of the John Burns School of Medicine.
Image Source - Project Hōkūlani Logo