Kalaupapa National Historical Park (KNHP) is looking for interns to assist the National Park Service personnel and staff with protecting and monitoring the marine and freshwater ecosystems in the park.

Schedule 

May 4, 2025 – September 21, 2025

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

These internships will involve living and working in a remote, isolated community on Molokai, Hawaii. Two internship positions will support ongoing efforts in the Marine Program at KNHP to monitor the health of the marine and freshwater environments including coral reef surveys, stream animal assessments, monk seal and sea turtle surveys, water quality, maintaining temperature loggers, and weather station equipment. The positions will also assist with active resource management projects including coastal marine debris collection, eDNA sampling, and injured or stranded marine life responses. Participating in terrestrial projects like native plant restoration and out planting or plant nursery work may be possible as opportunities arise.

Responsibilities and duties:

Under the direction of the KNHP Marine Ecologist, these positions will:

• use SCUBA to collect scientific data underwater.

• assist the park boat operator with safe boating practices including docking, trailering, and live boating.

• assist with performing basic maintenance and upkeep of park boat for seaworthiness.

• implement established freshwater and marine ecology projects following instructions and standardized procedures.

• assist with the collection and organization of freshwater and marine resource field data.

• ensure quality control of biological and other natural resource data collected in the field.

• assist with weekly coastal walking surveys for marine T&E species.

• perform multi-day field trips in the backcountry to collect freshwater stream data.

• utilize spreadsheets and databases to enter and maintain data and assist with analyzing data and writing reports.

Required Qualifications 

• An interest and prior academic experience in marine ecology (required)

• Open water SCUBA certification (required)

• Ability carry out physically demanding work (required)

• Proficiency in swimming (required)

• Ability to live and work in a remote, isolated community Mon-Fri each week (required)

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

For more information, visit the park’s website HERE