15 Tech Internships for Undergraduates in Hawaii
- Stephen Turban
- 5 days ago
- 12 min read
A tech degree can open doors, but internships are usually what help you walk through them. They give you a chance to work with real systems, real users, and real teams, which is hard to replicate in a classroom. You also start seeing what kind of work you enjoy, whether that is building, testing, analyzing, or supporting.
What tech internships are available for undergraduates in Hawaii?
Hawaii has a growing mix of tech opportunities, and internships here let you build experience without leaving your community. You might assist with development work, support IT operations, help with digital tools, work on data cleanup or reporting, or join teams that handle systems and security tasks.
Choosing a local internship also keeps things realistic. You save on relocation costs while still building experience that strengthens your resume and gives you stronger talking points for interviews.
With that, here are 15 tech internships for undergraduates in Hawaii! If you're looking for more prestigious internships, check out this set of blogs!
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to undergraduates and gap year students!
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program where you work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup. Apply now!
Location: University of Hawaiʻi Hilo, Hilo, HI, and other locations across the state | Conference is held in Honolulu, HI
Stipend: Paid hourly rate; limited transportation and housing support may be available | Conference attendance is fully-funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 9 students chosen for the Research Pathway
Dates: 10 weeks over the summer plus 5-day orientation
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: Current undergraduates and recent graduates (up to 6 months after graduation) with at least a 2.0 GPA | Must be a US citizen, national, or permanent resident | Kaʻao Pathway applicants must show strong research interest and background | Must be interested in an ʻāina career in natural or cultural resource management, conservation research, or environmental education
Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES) Moʻo ʻĀina Pathway Program Kaʻao Research Pathway Internship is a paid summer internship run through the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, where you work on an environmental research project connected to ʻāina careers like conservation, natural resource management, and environmental education. Over 10 weeks, you are placed with a research mentor at the university or a partner organization, and your work can include field data, analysis, indigenous data approaches, or tools like mapping and remote sensing, depending on the placement. The program includes orientation, workshops, cohort learning, and a final symposium where you present what you worked on. It also includes funded participation in the Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference, which is a major part of the professional exposure.
Location: Multiple MITRE locations, including Honolulu, HI
Stipend: Prorated salary of $46,000-$69,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: 10-12 weeks over the summer from May/June - July/August
Application Deadline: Recruiting season typically runs from September - March
Eligibility: Current full-time undergraduates majoring in Cybersecurity, Information Security, or a similar field | Must not graduate before the internship | Strong academic performance and foundational knowledge in cybersecurity/information security/programming required | Security clearance may be required
MITRE Cybersecurity and Information Security Internship Program places you in MITRE’s work environment where you support cybersecurity and information security projects tied to government missions. You work with technical teams on tasks connected to cyber operations, threat work, and systems security, depending on the internship posting and group. The internship runs for about 10 to 12 weeks in the summer, and the work is structured like a real industry role, not a classroom program. MITRE also builds in mentorship and internal learning opportunities, so you are not working in isolation while trying to figure everything out.
Location: Multiple placements, including Pearl Harbor, Hilo, and Kihei, HI
Stipend: Full-tuition scholarships throughout college plus annual stipends ($30,000-$46,000/year), and health and book allowances
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 8% (for all degree levels)
Dates: 1-5 years based on time of application; 8-12 week summer internship
Application Deadline: First Friday in December
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate freshmen and current undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students aged 18+ studying an eligible STEM discipline | Minimum 3.0 GPA | Must be a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom | Must commit to serving as a DoD employee to an equivalent length of time to SMART participation | Security clearance required | Must complete a summer internship during each year of participation
The U.S. Department of Defense SMART Program is a scholarship program that also includes required summer internships at Department of Defense facilities, including sites in Hawaii. You apply while pursuing a STEM degree, and if selected, you receive tuition support and stipends while completing training and a summer internship each year. During your internship, you work with a DoD mentor on projects tied to defense technology and applied research, and the work depends heavily on the lab or agency you are placed into. The key structure is that the program is long-term, and after graduation, you commit to working for the DoD for a period linked to how long you were funded.
Location: Teradata, Honolulu, HI
Stipend: $29-$50/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: 10-12 weeks from May/June to August/September
Application Deadline: Rolling application review
Eligibility: Current undergraduate, master’s, or PhD students pursuing a degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field | See job description for additional technical skills required
The AI and cloud analytics company Teradata offers tech internships for undergraduates at its Honolulu, Hawaii, office, focused on hands-on AI engineering. You’ll work alongside current employees to develop intelligence agents for data analysis and workflows in healthcare, finance, and telecommunications sectors. You’ll take on projects such as designing scalable AI training software, programming performance improvements for AI systems, evaluating open-source frameworks, and more. You’ll work with cross-functional teams and network with industry professionals across AI architecture, machine learning engineering, and data scientists.
Location: Ford Island, HI
Stipend: Prorated salary of $37,193 to - $91,815/year; varies by experience.e
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 1 internship vacancy
Dates: Varies by vacancy
Application Deadline: January 29
Eligibility: US citizens aged 16+ | Must be a rising or current undergraduate student | Must have skills in IT architecture, technology applications, and customer service | Security clearance required; males must be registered or exempt from Selective Service
The Department of Defense’s Student Trainee Internship Program offers a Hawaii-based specialization in Information Technology for undergraduates. You’ll work for the Defense Information Systems Agency in the Pacific Field Command, supporting the US Cyber Command through providing a diverse range of tech and programming support. You’ll support IT functions for the base staff, including Internet Protocol voice testing, systems configuration, and audio/visual hardware troubleshooting. Working alongside DoD staff, you’ll also take on advanced assignments like programming code for audio and video control systems, matrix switching, and audio signal processing. You’ll receive both official training and informal mentorship, allowing you to network with high-level DoD staff, explore varied professional tech roles at the Ford Island base, and take on rotational assignments to expand your skill set in the field.
Location: NSA field sites in Hawaii, Colorado, Georgia, Texas, Maryland, and Utah.
Stipend: Paid plus subsidized housing and travel reimbursement for non-local interns
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: 12 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: Applications open on September 1
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students
The National Security Agency’s Internship Program offers three-month internships for undergraduates supporting the Agency’s STEM and Mission Support operations. Undergraduates looking for tech internships can pursue placements in security, counterintelligence, computer science, or cybersecurity. You’ll contribute to high-level technological projects such as developing defensive cybersecurity software, designing telecommunications systems, programming NSA system software, and more. You’ll network with nationally-ranking engineers, researchers, and intelligence professionals, building high-powered connections and learning about life as an NSA employee.
Beyond the summer internship program, you can also consider applying to the STEM Co-Op program, where you’ll alternate semesters between college attendance and full-time work at the NSA in Maryland or Hawaii. Rising undergraduates can apply for the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program in computer science, computer/electrical engineering, or cybersecurity, earning a $30,000/year scholarship, a yearly salary, and fully-funded housing and travel to yearly summer internships. Scholarship recipients are guaranteed a full-time post-graduation position; interns will be considered for future employment based on performance.
Location: Huntington Ingalls, Honolulu, HI
Stipend: Hourly rate of $20-$24/hour; typical total compensation of $36,920 - $41,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: June 1 - July 24
Application Deadline: Rolling application review beginning in January
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students, ideally pursuing a degree/coursework in Data Science, Information Technology (IT), Intelligence Studies, and/or Cybersecurity | Must be able to obtain a security clearance | Preference given to Hawaiian students (high school graduates or college attendees)
Huntington Ingalls offers undergraduates hands-on tech internships in Hawaii with an emphasis on professional skill development. You’ll work on cross-disciplinary technology and intelligence projects, primarily through private government contracts, applying skills across programming, AI and machine learning, software development, and more. Your internship will focus heavily on career preparation and training, including personalized mentorship, lectures from company and defense industry leaders, technical exercises and briefs, and educational events. At the end of the program, you’ll complete a collaborative capstone project on defense and intelligence technology, where you’ll be expected to apply the array of skills you’ve learned throughout the summer.
Location: Chaminade University, Oahu, HI
Stipend: $6,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 25% acceptance rate for 30-student cohort
Dates: May 31 - July 1
Application Deadline: February 23
Eligibility: Undergraduates from Hawai`i, the continental US, and the US-affiliated Pacific Region | Must be a US citizen, permanent resident, national, or COFA | All majors are eligible; many students are from computational programs, but students studying areas outside of computer science are encouraged to apply as well
The NSF SPICE Summer Data Science Institute at Chaminade University is a paid summer program where you spend about a month in Hawaii working on a data science research project with faculty and partner researchers. You build practical skills in tools like Python and R while applying them to a project tied to real issues in the Pacific region. The structure includes research work, mentorship, and a final presentation, so you leave with something you can show and explain. It is designed to function like a research internship where your main output is a completed project, not a set of lectures.
Location: Kaiser Permanente, Wailuku, HI
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 10-12 weeks over the summer; typically June-August
Application Deadline: Rolling application review; recruiting ends in April
Eligibility: Current undergraduates or recent graduates | Experience in data/process analytics required | GPA of 3.0+ preferred
Kaiser Permanente’s undergraduate IT internship program offers hands-on work experience in tech at an international company alongside training in leadership and professional development. You’ll contribute to a current Kaiser Permanente technology project or initiative alongside a team of professionals. While assignments will vary by project, your work will entail elements like software development, data analytics, project management, and applying advanced company technology to business objectives. You’ll also shadow employees across other technical departments to learn about other computational work opportunities at the company. You’ll access rigorous professional development opportunities, including networking with company leaders, career planning workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and more.
Location: Multiple City departments and agencies in Honolulu, HI
Stipend: $19.50/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – August 14 | Spring internships also offered
Application Deadline: March 27; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Current undergraduates studying Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Civil/Electrical/Structural/Mechanical Engineering
The Po’okela Fellows Internship Program offers Hawaiian students and future Honolulu institutional leaders a combination of career exposure, mentorship, and hands-on work. You’ll take on professional-level projects alongside leaders across the Honolulu government’s departments and agencies. Tech internships for undergraduates include specializations in software programming, energy generation technology, water systems technology, and more. Your assignments and training will emphasize how working for the city and county government can make a positive impact on the local community. You’ll network with City leadership, be connected with industry professionals across the region, and receive mentorship and talent development for planning your future.
Location: WSP, Honolulu, HI
Stipend: $22.16 - $30.25/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: 12 weeks over the summer, beginning in mid-May
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current undergraduate or graduate students aged 18+ studying electrical engineering or a related field | Experience using AutoCAD or Revit preferred
The WSP Electrical Engineering Internship Program is a summer role where you support electrical engineering teams on real project work in areas like telecommunications engineering and design support. Your tasks can include project research, documentation, basic design calculations, field support, and helping prepare materials that feed into final engineering deliverables. The internship is structured around learning how engineering work is done in a firm environment, including how teams track work and communicate across stakeholders. Software tools like AutoCAD or Revit may be part of the workflow depending on the role.
Location: Multiple HDOT locations across Hawaii
Stipend: $16 - $24.35/hour; varies by grade level
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not provided
Dates: May - August
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Current students enrolled in a higher education program aged 16+
The Hawaii Department of Transportation Summer Internship Program offers paid placements where you support transportation systems work across airports, harbors, highways, and administrative offices. Depending on the division, your role can include IT support, systems work, or engineering and technology tasks connected to infrastructure operations. The program is built around real departmental needs, so you are not doing simulated work. HDOT also runs school-year internships, which matter if you want a longer work experience beyond summer.
Location: Oceanit, Honolulu, HI
Stipend: $16-$30/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 5 interns
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling application review beginning in late Fall - early Winter
Eligibility: Open to high school, technical school, and undergraduate students, plus recent graduates within 12 months. You must meet age and citizenship requirements. A major in computer science, engineering, astronomy, physics, or a related field is required. Experience with software algorithms and system design is preferred.
Oceanit’s Student Internship Program offers hands-on internships in Computer Science and Software Engineering with applications across aerospace and defense, healthcare, energy, and computer technology. You’ll work alongside professional scientists and engineers from Oceanit to directly contribute to ongoing research and development projects. Computer Science and Software Development assignments can range from building an AI computer vision model, designing and testing infrared camera software, applying novel nano-materials for innovative tech developments, and more. You’ll then develop a Capstone research project proposal of your own, which you’ll present to the company’s Review Committee for approval. Past interns’ projects have typically resulted in professional-level work used for client products and services.
Location: Multiple Booz Allen office locations, including Honolulu, HI
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: 10 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate juniors and seniors pursuing a STEM field
The Booz Allen Summer Games Internship Program is a paid summer internship where you work in a small team on a project that you build and deliver during the internship period. The structure is designed like an internal accelerator, so you spend the summer planning, building, testing, and presenting a working solution with support from Booz Allen mentors. Projects vary, but the program is built for technical work across engineering, data, and software roles. At the end, you present your work in the Summer Games challenge format, which is a major part of how the internship is evaluated.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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