Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science - PIPES

“E nihi ka helena i uka o Puna, mai pūlale i ka ʻike a ka maka.” (ʻŌ.N. #360)

This past weekend marked our first overnight huakaʻi with the 2026 cohort in the moku of Puna! From Kaʻakepa to Makuʻu, and ending the day with Kīlauea carrying us into the pō, interns spent the weekend building pilina, giving back to the ʻāina, and learning from the many poʻe and places that make Puna so special.

Centered around Naʻau, one of the pillars of the PIPES Moʻo ʻĀina Framework, this huakaʻi focused on the seat of our thoughts, emotions, intuition, and lived experiences. The ʻōlelo noʻeau “E nihi ka helena i uka o Puna, mai pūlale i ka ʻike a ka maka” teaches us to move through Puna with intention and care. By slowing down and paying attention beyond what first meets the eye, we allow our naʻau to guide the way we build pilina with ʻāina, kaiāulu, and one another.

What a special way to begin this summer’s overnight huakaʻi in the moku where the sun rises at Haʻehaʻe.

Mahalo nui loa to our Puna hosts: Aunty Leila, Aunty Makani, and Uncle Mikey with Pōhaku Pelemaka, Lis and Natalia with the UH Hilo Geology Department and USGS Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory, and last but certainly not least, ʻO Makuʻu Ke Kahua with Lauaʻe and Mele Kekahuna, and past Puna alumni, for welcoming our entire cohort and allowing us to explore our naʻau through ʻāina work. Can’t wait for the next one!

We are pleased to introduce the 2026 PIPES cohort: 35 interns representing their places and communities from Hawaiʻi and across the honua! 

Last week, our cohort gathered at Kahaluʻu Manowai for Orientation before heading off to their host sites. It was filled with sunsets, special ʻāina and kūpuna experiences, oli and mele, new pilina, lots of laughter, and moments that reminded us of why we do this work.

They had their first week on-the-job with their host organizations and we can’t believe next week is already week 3! We hope everyone is settling in, connecting with the ʻāina and communities they’ll be working alongside, and embracing all the experiences this summer has to offer.

Swipe through to see where each intern is placed across Hawaiʻi Island and the mentors they’ll be spending their summer with!

Mahalo to our host organizations, partners, funders, mentors, and supporters who make PIPES possible and continue to invest in the next generation of aloha ʻāina.

Kaulana Nā Kona

We had an incredible week with our 2026 cohort. From service learning to our first ever PIPES oli competition, spending time with kūpuna of place, and learning about one another and the ancestors we aspire to be,… we draw inspiration from the ʻāina of Kahaluʻu kai, uka, and Kekahawaiʻole.

Mahalo palena ʻole to Uncle Māhealani Pai, aunty Kalani Kahulamū Hamm, aunty Val, and aunty Lei Lightner, for letting us share in the experiences of their home, and prompting us to hone in on our pōtential by connecting to ʻāina. Many thanks to our alumni and kākoʻo who also helped to make this past week a wonderful success.

Interns are off on their new journeys! We can’t wait to share more as the summer unfolds… 

Naʻū…!