Internship Program

Understory Alliance’s internship program is an individualized, hands-on education program. You learn by working across Understory Alliance’s programs and operations, on-site and online. We figure out together what you work on based on what Understory needs, what you want to practice, and what you are curious about.

Fall Internship

10 weeks
August 31 – November 8, 2026

Spring Internship

10 weeks
February 22 – May 9, 2027
Spring recess: March 15 – 21

Summer Internship

6 weeks
June 1 – July 11, 2027

    • Plant propagation and care

    • Māla Lāʻau stewardship

    • Nursery work

    • Research

    • Data collection and entry

    • Graphic art and design

    • Social media content

    • Writing

    • Workshops and community workdays

    • Outreach

    • Photography and videography

    • Light administrative work

    • Developing a project from start to finish

  • Internships may be hybrid, fully on-site, or fully virtual. For hybrid internships, we figure out the mix of on-site and virtual work with you. Weekly hours are individualized.

    You may work independently, with a partner, with your cohort, or alongside mentors. On-site work happens at our nurseries, Māla Lāʻau, community events, and other places on Kauaʻi.

    Every intern meets virtually twice each week: once as a group and once one-on-one with a mentor.

    We celebrate our time together by closing each internship with a community pāʻina and final presentations. Interns present the work they contributed to and share what they learned through the experience.


    • High school students

    • College and graduate students

    • Recent graduates

    • People building experience, changing direction, or exploring something new

    No previous experience with plants, conservation, or nonprofit work is required.

    You bring your life experience, curiosity, skills, and your own way of seeing things. We build from there. You leave with skills you have practiced, projects you can point to, and responsibilities you can share and build on wherever you are headed.

  • You can apply anytime. We review applications only during the periods below, and your application will stay on file.

    Fall 2026

    Applications open now
    Apply by Friday, August 14
    Conversations: August 17 – 21
    Offers: August 24 – 25
    Agreements and waivers due: Friday, August 28
    Program: August 31 – November 8

    Spring 2027

    Applications read: November 12 – January 15
    Apply by Friday, January 15
    Offers: February 1 – 12
    Agreements and waivers due: Friday, February 19
    Program: February 22 – May 9
    Spring recess: March 15 – 21

    Summer 2027

    Applications read: March 15 – May 7
    Apply by Friday, May 7
    Conversations: May 10 – 14
    Offers: May 17 – 21
    Agreements and waivers due: Friday, May 28
    Program: June 1 – July 11

  • Some internships are funded through school grants or come with academic credit, and others are volunteer internships. We continue to seek funding to pay interns directly because we don’t think people should have to be able to afford a volunteer internship to take part.

Application