Come Intern With Us

You might come into this internship loving plants, art, research, community work, writing, organizing, or something completely different.

During your internship, you’ll have a mix of opportunities across what Understory is working on, from propagating native plants and working in the Māla Lāʻau to research, design, outreach, data, education, events, and the day-to-day work of running a small nonprofit.

What you work on depends on what Understory needs, what you are interested in, what you want to practice, and what fits into your schedule.

Fall Internship

10 weeks
SEP 2 – NOV 8, 2026

Apply Today

Spring Internship

10 weeks
FEB 22 – MAY 9, 2027
Spring recess: MAR 15 – 21

Apply by JAN 15, 2027

Summer Internship

6 weeks
JUN 1 – JUL 11, 2027

Apply by MAY 7, 2027

  • Your internship will include a mix of opportunities. Depending on what we are working on:

    • Propagating and caring for plants

    • Working in our nurseries and Māla Lāʻau

    • Research and data

    • Art, graphic design, photography, and video

    • Writing, social media, and educational materials

    • Workshops, community workdays, and outreach

    • Organizing, administrative work, and nonprofit operations

    • Developing a project from start to finish

  • We build your internship around your schedule. You can be with us on Kauaʻi, fully virtual, or do a mix of both, and 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 at least once a week: once as a group and once one-on-one with a mentor as needed.

    We close each internship with a community pāʻina and final presentations, where you share some of what you worked on and what you learned along the way.

    • 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 Today!

    Program: SEP 2 – NOV 8

    Spring 2027

    Applications read: NOV 12 – JAN 15
    Apply by Friday, JAN 15
    Conversations with applicants: JAN 18 – 22
    Offers: FEB 1 – 12
    Agreements and waivers due: Friday, FEB 19
    Program: FEB 22 – MAY 9
    Spring recess: MAR 15 – 21

    Summer 2027

    Applications read: MAR 15 – May 7
    Apply by Friday, MAY 7
    Conversations with applicants: MAY 10 – 14
    Offers: MAY 17 – 21
    Agreements and waivers due: Friday, MAY 28
    Program: JUN 1 – JUL 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