SUST/SOC 394 Sustainability Internship

SUST/SOC 394  - Sustainability Internship (3 credits, Spring Semester) offers students internship experience with a partner civil society organization that is working to enhance sustainability and livability while being supervised by on-site professional and a course instructor. The course provides academic resources to help understand the broader social, political, and economic contexts of on-the-ground initiatives.

Current Partner Organizations:

​Current partner organizations are as follows. Students may also propose a new partner organization.

Sierra Club of Hawai'i 

• Sierra Club of Hawai'i's mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

With 50 years and counting under Sierra Club of Hawai'i's belt, the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi is working to advance climate solutions, act for justice, get outdoors, and protect Hawai‘i’s lands, water, air, and wildlife.

Sierra Club of Hawai'i works on both statewide and county-based issues, activating our 27,000+ members and supporters to get involved on issues they care about through their groups on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi.

Through their tried and true grassroots advocacy, long-standing outings program, and public interest litigation we connect people to the things they care about in nature and help them better defend the natural resources they depend on.
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The Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi is a member driven chapter of the national Sierra Club.

Hawai'i Alliance for Progressive Action 

• Mission: Hawai'i Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) mission is to catalyze community empowerment and systemic change towards valuing people and ‘āina ahead of corporate profits. HAPA’s mission is critical to preserving Hawaiʻiʻs environment, ecology, and food production. Given the intersectional nature of food systems, we emphasize that food system problems are not independent of other social, economic, and environmental issues. 

HAPA is dedicated to fighting for social, economic, and environmental justice in Hawaiʻi. Whether protecting communities from toxic pesticide drift or advocating for a living wage, we strive to improve the unfair conditions forced upon locals and the ‘āina through community organizing, advocacy, and education.

HAPA has four interconnected program areas that synergistically work to accomplish our mission, which is to catalyze community empowerment and systemic change toward valuing ‘āina (that which sustains us) and people ahead of corporate profits. Fair & Sustainable Food Systems; Community-Based Resource Stewardship, Reclaiming Democracy, Social & Economic Justice. Click on each program to learn more about their respective goals, active campaigns, and programs. 

Mohala Farms

• Mohala Farms mission is to foster healthy local communities in Hawaii through sustainable agriculture, lifelong education and cultural & creative arts. ​Our work is grounded on the life-giving qualities of the land and a village-model of mutual cooperation and local self-sufficiency.

Whether planting a seed, installing an irrigation system or building an adobe oven, there are endless opportunities on a farm to learn new skills and develop deeper understandings of our natural environment. Mohala Farms is creating a place designed to welcome visitors of all ages interested in learning more about organic and sustainable farming practices and of developing practical resources to help new and prospective organic farmers succeed in their endeavors. Educational activities at the farm include a farm internship program, workshops and retreats on organic agricultural practices, participation in University of Hawai'i organic farming research projects, and hands-on learning activities with school groups, churches and other community-based organizations.

Holomua Farms

Our mission is live with joy and peace by connecting (Aloha),  co-creating (Hana), restoring and educating community from Holomua Mauka to Makai

Holomua's vision is a community stewarding self reliance and sustainability that stand with Aloha to heal the world and an objective to serve, and connect to Akua through aloha 'āina. 

He aliʻi ka ʻāina; he kauwa ke kanaka.
Land is a chief; man its servant. --ʻŌlelo Noʻeau

All who participate at Holomua mauka to makai will connect to the mana (power, joy and peace) that comes by connecting to ‘āina, Wai/Kai, culture, community, self, Akua, food and perseverance. That power can restore all pilikia (problems). 

Ua hilo ‘ia i ke aho a ke aloha. Braided with the cords of love. Held in the bonds of Aloha.-- ʻŌlelo Noʻeau
As we learn to braid the cords that connect our community in Aloha to all that was created, we  are able to open the healing power of Aloha by recieveing, learning, teaching and practicing principles of Aloha.  

​As we serve and learn of the power of Aloha, we see with a  lens of purity. 

Hawai'i Public Health Institute 

Our mission is to advance the health and wellness of the people and islands of Hawai'i

HIPHI's vision is for all  people of Hawai‘i achieve their best health 

We envision a Hawai‘i where: 

• Health is understood to be holistic, broad, and determined by upstream social, cultural and environmental factors;
• Business, government and community collaborate, take collective action, and share responsibility for health; and
• People and places are in ecological balance, with sustainable and regenerative systems for food, water, energy, and waste.