A Summer in Hawaii Experience

Over the summer, CTL alumni had the opportunity to intern with various Hawai'i-based organizations, gaining first-hand experience leading in the workplace. These internships provided our young leaders with invaluable insights into the real-world challenges and opportunities that await them in their future careers. The feedback from both the interns and their mentors has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the significant impact of the program on both personal and professional growth.

Haley Alferez at aio Digital

Ms. Julie Kaneko, Director of Marketing and Communications for aio Digital, served as a mentor to our Summer in Hawai'i intern, Haley Alferez. Julie was impressed by Haley's quick learning and eagerness to contribute to projects, stating, "Haley was a pleasure to have in our office this summer. Partnering with CTL for this program was a great way for us to have some additional help while also providing unique pathways and opportunities for our up-and-coming workforce."

Haley described the work environment at aio Digital as welcoming and supportive, sharing, "My advisor ensured I always received the help I needed and was eager to teach me new things in the marketing field." A big mahalo to Julie and aio Digital for believing in Hawai'i’s next generation of leaders and for your commitment to nurturing their growth.

Kaelah Kimura at UN CIFAL Honolulu Training Center

Ms. Gail Grabowsky, Executive Director for the UN CIFAL Honolulu Training Center, mentored Kaelah Kimura during her internship. Gail noted Kaelah's exceptional contributions to United Nations/Sustainable Development Goals research and her initiative in finding case studies for a new sustainability-oriented MBA program.

Kaelah ound the experience invaluable, particularly the conversations about what it means to be local and how to contribute to Hawai'i even from afar. She shared, "After SiH, I'm able to see the incredible value and power of working in Hawai'i in the future." This sentiment underscores the program's impact in helping young people see a future for themselves in their island home.

Josie Dang at Hawai'i Workforce Funders Collaborative

Mr. Matt Stevens, Executive Director of the Hawai'i Workforce Funders Collaborative, advised Josie Dang during her internship. Josie expressed her appreciation for the supportive environment, saying, "I loved that they really cared about the learning goals I wanted to accomplish and get out of this internship.” Matt praised Josie’s clarity of vision, time management skills, and initiative, noting that she exceeded expectations in her work. 

Jasmine Rocha at Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

Jasmine Rocha, a CTL Summer in Hawai'i intern with the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, valued the friendly and intellectually stimulating work environment. Mr. Joe Kent, Executive Vice President of the Grassroot Institute, was impressed by Jasmine’s research and the positive impact she had on the organization.

Joe remarked, "I didn't realize how much our staff would learn from our intern, but that speaks to the high-quality and diligence of the talent in the CTL program." 

Yvonne Nguy, and Shayla Oyama at Hawaii State Department of Education

Wanelle Kaneshiro, Director of the Workforce Development branch for the Hawaii State Department of Education, mentored CTL interns Yvonne Nguy and Shayla Oyama. Yvonne, interested in occupational therapy, was able to apply those interests in supporting young students regain skills needed for everyday living. Shayla on the other hand was able to work at the elementary she attended, bringing her closer to her community. Both interns were praised for their adaptability and willingness to embrace new experiences. Shayla expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to give back to her community, especially at her old elementary school, while Yvonne appreciated the experience in an educational setting. 

Clarenz Ringor at Kai Hawaii

Mr. Tim Goshi, Principal at Kai Hawaii, mentored Clarenz Ringor during the Summer in Hawai'i program. Tim highlighted Clarenz's work ethic and ability to synthesize complex data into meaningful results, which will be used in studies on wind resiliency for single-family homes in the state. Clarenz shared that his highlight of the program was working with Kai Hawaii and learning more about Hawai'i with the CTL team.

These are just a few of the many success stories from our Summer in Hawai'i internship program. By sharing them, we hope you can envision yourself thriving in this incredible experience too.

This program is designed for the summer after a college freshman or sophomore year. We will also consider juniors. For those who are in the workforce, we're looking for young leaders in the first 2-3 years after high school graduation. So if you’re interested in participating next summer, be sure to turn your notifications on for the applications in November!