Hawaiʻi Internship Summit Scheduled For March 4

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

KA ʻOIHANA PONO LIMAHANA

JADE T. BUTAY

DIRECTOR

KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

Hawaiʻi Internship Summit Scheduled For March 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2025

HONOLULU - Hawai'i will host its first statewide Internship Summit on March 4, 2026. It will be a collaborative event bringing together state leaders, private-sector employers, and workforce partners to strengthen internship programs and celebrate excellence in work-based learning.

The summit will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, 2454 S. Beretania St., Honolulu.

The summit is a joint initiative led by the Workforce Development Council and the Hawai'i Employers Council, with support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Workforce Development Division, the Hawai'i Department of Education and Hawai'i P-20 Partnerships for Education.

The theme, "From Internship to Impact: Building Hawai'i's Future Workforce," emphasizes best practices, showcases successful models, and explores how internships create pathways to employment and economic mobility.

"High-quality internships are a proven talent strategy for building skills, strengthening businesses, and expanding pathways into good jobs," said DLIR Director Jade T. Butay.

"Internships connect learning to real careers and help retain local talent in Hawai'i," said Sarah Guay, president and CEO of the Hawai'i Employers Council (HEC). "This Summit will empower employers to strengthen programs that build Hawai'i's workforce and economy."

"Internships are a strategic workforce solution," said Bennette Misalucha, executive director of the Workforce Development Council. "The Hawai'i Internship Summit raises expectations and drives better outcomes. Strong internship programs succeed when employers, education, and government work together to develop future talent."

A highlight of the event will be the presentation of the first Hawai'i Internship Excellence Awards, honoring interns and host organizations that exemplify high-quality, meaningful, and impactful internship experiences. Awards will recognize both public and private sector organizations participating in the Hele Imua internship program. Public-sector awardees were selected late last year and will be recognized at the summit.

"Programs like Hele Imua connect participants to real-world skills and mentorship that Hawai'i needs," said Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz. "The summit recognizes statewide collaboration and honors those committed to building local talent and reversing our brain drain."

Nominations for private sector organizations will be accepted in the following award categories beginning Friday, January 16 and will close on February 11.

County-Level Awards

• Internship Excellence Award - Organization

• Internship Excellence Award - Intern

Statewide Awards

• Internship Champion of the Year (Individual)

• Most Outstanding Internship Coordinator of the Year (School-based)

• Internship Program of the Year

• State Intern of the Year - (All county-level winners from both public sector and private sector will be automatically advanced for consideration for the State Intern Award)

Details regarding event registration, award nomination forms, and the event agenda are available on the Workforce Development Council website at: https://labor.hawaii.gov/wdc/.

For additional questions, please contact [email protected].

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Media Contact:
Bill Kunstman
Acting Public Information Officer, State of Hawai'i
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Phone: 808-586-8852
Email: [email protected]