What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sustainable Agriculture and Community Outreach Intern position at Hawaii Preparatory Academy?
ABOUT THE POSITION
The sustainable agriculture and community outreach intern will apprentice at Ulu Malama Terrace Farm and the Ulumau Garden at the HPA Upper Campus and Village Campus respectively. This individual will help to serve our community by assisting with food outreach, connecting the school gardens to our Waimea community. They will learn and implement sustainable agriculture practices and grow fresh food for those in need within our island community. They will learn best practices to educate and enhance the learning experience of our current students in grades K-12.
The hiring team will review applications as they are received, with the goal of hiring for the position around the third week of March. The anticipated start date for this role is around July 24, 2026.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Sustainable Agriculture: To learn and implement regenerative agriculture practices while developing and maintaining a connection to our island.
- Open communication and collaboration with garden coordinators
- Assist with seeding, cultivation, soil amending, harvesting, and produce distribution
- Organization and record keeping of farming systems
- Be an advocate for farm to school education for our students ages 5-18
Education: To learn how to implement garden-based classes in an outdoor setting using place-based experiential learning.
- Help maintain a safe and welcoming outdoor classroom environment
- Build relationships with students and the community through food
- Provide positive, caring, empathetic treatment of students
- Exhibit enthusiasm for place-based curriculum
Community Outreach: To learn about issues of food security that uniquely affect our island home and to partner with local groups that are serving our community.
- Assist in food production for community partners
- Build relationships with community food organizations and local farmers
- Keeping records on food distribution
QUALIFICATIONS:
- High School Diploma
- Previous knowledge and/or a passion for farm to table education
- Ability to lift 50lbs
- Enjoy working outside in variable weather conditions and uneven terrain
- Ability to perform each essential job function satisfactorily - working both independently and alongside others
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate effectively with students, colleagues, and community members as needed
- Ability to use computers for classroom instruction and record keeping
- This position is not tied to the academic calendar. Learning how to best work in each space, and honoring the Garden working in the summer and over school breaks is essential to supporting its ongoing needs.
Schedule for 1 year paid internship: July 24, 2026 - July 16, 2027
Salary: This is a grant-funded, part-time position, scheduled for 19 hours per week. The pay rate for this role is $20 per hour.
Salary : $20