State launches Hele Imua Internship for agriculture industry
Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, in partnership with Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation and Ulupono Initiative, launched a new — yet familiar — internship to support the state’s agriculture industry.
The 12-week Hele Imua Internship program pairs interns with local farmers to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s agricultural workforce.

Interns will earn $20 per hour for part-time work of up to 19.5 hours per week, during which they gain hands-on experience in seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting and delivery.
“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,” said Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Director Jade Butay in a state release detailing the new internship.
It marks the first expansion since its creation earlier this year of the Hele Imua Internship into the private sector.
Among the lawmakers who introduced the measure that became the law establishing the internship were Kaua‘i state Reps. Luke Evslin, Hawai‘i House Majority Leader Dee Morikawa and Hawai‘i Speaker of the House Nadine Nakamura.
Big Island legislators among those who introduced the bill were state Reps. Greggor Ilagan, Majority Caucus Leader Kirstin Kahaloa, Jeanné Kepela, Sue Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Matthias Kusch, Nicole Lowen, David Tarnas and Chris Todd.
Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation is assisting with developing the program for the agriculture industry.
Hele Imua was originally set up as a program in which eligible candidates to get exposure to various high-demand occupations in state government that could transition into gainful employment within Hawaiʻi’s labor market.
“The future of Hawai‘i’s food security depends on developing the next generation of farmers and agricultural leaders,” said Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation Executive Director Denise Yamaguchi in the state’s announcement.
This partnership between the Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation and Ulupono Initiative aims to build stronger connections between young workers and local farms, as well as to support long-term careers in agriculture.
Application deadline is Oct. 24.
Those interested in interning can apply here. Farm partner applications can be found here.