Mar. 20, 2018

Contributed by Andrea Oka

People Attentive to Children (PATCH) is one of seven organizations that participated in the Kamehameha Schools Kāpili ʻŌihana Internship Program (KOIP) since its inception ten years ago.

The other internship sites included Keiki O Ka ʻĀina, Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives, Molokaʻi Community Service Council/Molokaʻi Youth Center, Royal Hawaiian Center, The Kahala Hotel & Resort and The Nature Conservancy.

Today, there are over 200 business internships that range from public and human services, industrial and engineering technology, arts and communications, and natural resources, that reflect the diverse interests and needs to develop vibrant career pathways for haumāna.

More than 70 business leaders gathered recently to discuss increasing student participation rates, continuing to expand internship opportunities, and identifying what both businesses and students need for a successful internship. Attendees participated in breakout work sessions with facilitators and shared their manaʻo on the quality of KOIP and their ideas on how KS can partner with businesses to strengthen the talent pipeline for a strong and skilled workforce.

"Strengthening pilina with our business community is vital to the success of KOIP into the future," said KOIP Counseling Services Program Manager Heidi Dangaran. "These organizations provide valuable insight to industry trends that will impact education and employment for our next generation of Native Hawaiian global and local leaders," she added.

KOIP is a statewide summer college internship program offering college students opportunities to develop new skills and competencies. They meet and learn from professionals in their field of interest, build a network of contacts, and increase their hiring potential upon graduation.

"It was interesting and pleasant to network with others in the same boat, working with and supporting interns. It gave me additional perspectives, made me question more about how and why my agency works with the interns," said Virginia Lord, project coordinator for PATCH. "This last year was one of our best because we focused on project-based work assignments, and because our two KOIP interns were nothing short of awesome," she added.

KOIP internships are set for this summer, but businesses interested in participating for future internships can contact Dangaran at hedangar@ksbe.edu

We have worked with KS students in the fields of human services, social work, finance, marketing, nursing, and nutrition at four of our island offices, on Oʻahu, Maui, the Big Island, and on Kauaʻi. We have been incredibly blessed and are thrilled to support this program, because the students in the program are our future. We have to do everything to ensure they are successful.
Virginia Lord, Project Coordinator, PATCH

More than 100 business leaders gathered to provide manaʻo to support an improved internship program and career pipeline for Native Hawaiian learners.

Interns Cyrus Maunakea, a Bachelor of Business Administration student from Portland University and Keala Swafford, a UH Mānoa graduate with her bachelor of science degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition engage with keiki at PATCH.