Deadline Nears For Haleakala Spring Internship

Haleakala Visitor Center, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Middle School students in Hawaii are invited to apply for the new Kupukupu ‘Aina internship program at Haleakala National Park on Maui.

The spring program runs from March 12-16, 2012, but the deadline to apply is less than two weeks away, on January 31, 2012.

The week-long internship is geared for students in grades 6-8, and provides hands-on experience, introducing local youth to park programs, facilities management, and careers related to natural resources management.

There is no fee to participate, but space is limited to 12 students who will be selected through a competitive process.

National Park Service officials say the program will provide critical stepping stones to help youth in developing marketable skills and professional contacts, as well as general knowledge and appreciation for Hawaii’s natural areas and species.

Interested students must be residents of Hawai‘i, and available full-time during the length of the program. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., not including travel time to and from the park. Free transportation to the park will be provided from designated sites.

Interns are also eligible to receive a living allowance of $25 per day to help offset the cost of supplies they will need for the program.

Haleakala National Park encompasses two regions: The Summit District on the upper slopes of Haleakala, and the Kipahulu District that stretches along Maui’s northeastern coast.

Additional details and application packets may be obtained by contacting the park’s Internship Coordinator, Kuhea Paracuelles, at (808) 572-4452 or [email protected].