Hawaiʻi is placing a bet on the future of its agriculture industry with the introduction of a new internship program designed to cultivate the next wave of farming professionals. Announced by the Hawaiʻi State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), the Hele Imua Internship program has been engineered in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation (HAF) and Ulupono Initiative, with a mission to deepen the agricultural knowledge of young participants and to reinforce the local workforce.
The 12-week initiative will enable interns to embed themselves in the daily operations of local agriculture, earning $20 per hour for up to 19.5 hours of part-time work each week. Candidates will be exposed to the core activities of farming, including seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting, and even the logistics of delivery. Despite the vastness of these tasks, the intention behind this endeavor is to offer interns a rounded glimpse into the agrarian way of life—a cornerstone of Hawaiʻi's economy.
A nod to supporting the bridge between academia and viable career paths, DLIR Director Jade T. Butay highlighted the program's focus on paid training and workforce support. "By pairing students with local farms through paid training and workforce support, the Hele Imua Internship program helps create a stronger bridge between education and employment," Butay stated in a release by the Governor of Hawaiʻi's office.
The initiative, which marks the first foray into the private sector for the Hele Imua Internship, draws legal backing from Act 251, SLH 2025, and enjoys the advocacy of HAF in laying the groundwork for its agriculture-centric version. "The future of Hawai‘i’s food security depends on developing the next generation of farmers and agricultural leaders," explained HAF Executive Director Denise Yamaguchi, indicating the weight of this internship on the long-term sustainability of Hawai‘i's food supply, as per the Governor of Hawaii office.
With the shared objective of nurturing durable ties between young professionals and established local farms, as well as fostering enduring agricultural careers, this collaborative effort signifies a forward-thinking approach in an industry that is often overshadowed by more tech-centric career opportunities. The window for interested parties to apply is rapidly closing, as applications for both interns and farm partners are being accepted via the program's dedicated online platforms until October 24, 2025. Prospective interns and farms can learn more and apply at bit.ly/heleimua_internapplication and bit.ly/heleimua_farmapplication respectively.
