Linking Undergraduates to Environmental Careers:
Mentoring the next generation of scientists, educators and managers for Hawaii’s and the Pacific’s future

PIPES History

Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES) is an umbrella program for several internship opportunities. The University of Hawai'i Hawaiian Internship Program (UH-HIP) was developed in 1997 in response to the observed lack of local representation within Hawaii’s conservation work force, in particular that of Native Hawaiian community members. In 2002, the University of Hawaii at Hilo was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program which enabled us to further expand our internship opportunities. Today, PIPES offers many undergraduate summer internship opportunities across the islands of Hawai‘i and the Pacific.

PIPES Vision

PIPES offers programs that are designed to connect underrepresented undergraduate students, especially those who are Native Hawaiian or kama’aina, to internship opportunities with agencies and organizations responsible for research, management, and education relating to environmental issues in Hawai’i and throughout the Pacific region. Our vision is that more students, will enter into fields of study and ultimately careers related to the natural resources of this state and region.

PIPES Programs

PIPES coordinates four different internship programs. The programs are:

For more information on each program, click on the name above.

PIPES Summer Program

Each summer student interns participate in a 11-week internship program focusing on tropical ecology, evolution, natural resources management, and environmental education and outreach. Interns work on mentored research projects with mentors from university, Federal, State, and Counties agencies, as well as non-profit organizations.

During the 11-week internship, a PIPES Intern is expected to complete the following:
- Write a project pre-proposal
- Participate in a 4-day pre-internship orientation
- Work full-time (40 hours/week) for the 10-week duration of the internship with the designated faculty or agency researcher
- Attend Friday meetings in Hilo (Maui, Oahu, and Kauai interns participate via video-conferencing)
- Submit regular progress reports to PIPES Office
- Attend the Hawaii Conservation Conference (host agency and/or PIPES program to cover all costs)
- Complete a written final research report
- Participate in a final intern presentation symposium