High School Internships Available at Haleakala National Park

By Wendy Osher

Pōhai Maile Internship Program: for High School students

Haleakala Visitor Center, file photo by Wendy Osher.

Local high school students have an opportunity to obtain hands-on experience working in a national park setting through a new Pōhai Maile internship program at Haleakalā National Park.

The three-week program runs from June 13 to July 1, 2011 and is for Hawai’i residents only.  During the program, interns engage in a variety of activities related to natural and cultural resources management, facilities maintenance, interpretive work and visitor education.

The internships are designed for students who have an interest in pursuing a career in conservation and the National Park Service.

“It is vitally important that we invest in our youth and give them opportunities to learn about and appreciate the natural world and our rich cultural heritage,” said Sarah Creachbaum, Superintendent at Haleakalā National Park.

A daily living allowance is paid for each day of participation in the program.  Interns who are accepted into the Pōhai Maile Program will be provided with free daily transportation to Haleakalā National Park from designated pick-up sites. Program days are Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. , not including travel time to and from the park.

`Imi i ka Lama Internship Program: for college-aged students:

A similar, more advanced program is also being offered this summer for college-age students.  The `Imi i ka Lama Internship Program is a program developed by Haleakalā National Park in partnership with Maui Economic Opportunity and the AmeriCorps Program.

“The hope is that some of our Pōhai Maile students will become interested in pursuing a conservation career in Hawai`i and possibly in the National Park Service. The `Imi i ka Lama Internship Program gives our high school students something to look forward to as a next step,” said Kūhea Paracuelles, Outreach and Internship Coordinator for HNP.

Interested individuals must submit a completed application via www.volunteer.gov by Friday, April 29, 2011.