Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES)

Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science

Applications for Summer 2025 Internships are now closed. Mahalo to all who applied. Interns selected for this summer's cohort will be notified by April 14th.

PIPES alumni 2023 in a collage featuring various group photos and outdoor scenes. In the central photo, a large group of people stands or kneels on a grassy lawn with the ocean in the background. The individuals are casually dressed and smiling, suggesting a friendly, informal gathering, possibly related to an environmental or community project. Surrounding the central image are smaller photos that show different groups engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, exploring forested areas, or working with plants. In some photos, people are seen interacting closely with nature, perhaps planting or studying native plants in a forested or coastal setting. The atmosphere appears relaxed and communal, with a shared purpose focused on environmental care or conservation2024 PIPES Alumni

Welina mai kākou!

Our Mission: Growing the next generation of aloha ʻāina leaders in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific through transformative place-based internships, mentorship, innovative programming, and strategic partnerships.

Illustration of progression between 4 pillars of the Moʻo ʻĀina framework -  Naʻau, ʻĀina, Kaiāulu, and Kaʻao

At PIPES, we believe that these four values and relationships are foundational to best practices for natural resource stewardship and management

  • Naʻau, the connection to oneself, is located at the small intestines of the body, which Hawaiians believe to be the seat of thought, intellect, feeling, and affections; in essence the connection to oneʻs self and life experiences. This is where we believe transformation begins.
  • ʻĀina, the connection to place and space, encompasses land, waters, stars, rains and other elemental sources, and also refers to time, space, and tangible/intangible environments.
  • Kaiāulu, the connection to community, references the village and represents the reciprocity between an individual and the communities they serve and are a contributing member of.
  • Kaʻao, the connection to data articulation, are essentially the tales, stories, and legends, representing thousands of years of data held in kilo (observation) by Hawaiian people in Hawaiʻi.

View intern presentations from the 2024 PIPES Symposium

Alumni Connections Survey

Are you a PIPES alumnus? Weʻd love to connect with you! Filling out this short 5-10 minute survey will help us to stay in touch and improve our engagement with alumni into the future. Mahalo a nui!

PIPES Highlights