For dynamic, capable and ambitious UH Mānoa students, five political internships are available to complement academic and professional goals. These internships offer a rare opportunity to work at the top levels of government. Through meaningful hands-on work experiences, combined with an enriching academic program, students gain an up-close view of state and federal government and gain skills to advance their careers in a variety of fields. The Mānoa Political Internships serve two primary purposes:
- To provide governmental offices with additional qualified personnel who assist the agency in fulfilling its objectives by performing meaningful tasks.
- To provide qualified students with an applied learning environment that validates previously learned academic concepts.
Perspectives
Insights and experiences of Spring 2021 Mānoa Political Interns placed in the offices of a U.S. Senator in Hawaii’s Congressional Delegation, a Hawaiʻi State Senator, the Honolulu Prosecutor, and the Hawaiʻi Lieutenant Governor.
Located in the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C., the U.S. Congressional Internship Program invites UH Mānoa students to work in one of four congressional offices in a city rich in historical and cultural significance. Interns are immersed in directed, intense public service. Interns work an average of 40 hours per week while earning 12 academic credits to maintain full-time status.
What the Internship Offers
- Funding to cover cost of attendance for the semester of the internship (based on resident tuition). A scholarship will be added to the student’s overall financial aid package.
- Airfare to and from Washington, D.C.
- Placement in and payment for a suitable dormitory for the semester.
- Food and winter clothing allowance (when applicable).
- Stipend for incidentals, e.g., ground transportation, concerts, etc.
Applicant Qualifications
Eligible students must be at the following levels by the starting date of the internship program.
- Level: Undergraduate
- Standing: Junior or Senior
- Minimum GPA: 3.0
- Residency: U.S. residents only
- Enrollment Status: Full-time
- Excellent writing, communication and people skills
- Prodigious work ethic and impeccable reliability
- Office computer experience (i.e. Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Basic research capabilities
- Well-organized with an eye for detail
- Professional demeanor
- Desire to learn
- Interest in public service
Hawaiʻi Governor’s Office Internship Program
The Hawaiʻi Governor’s Office Internship Program provides UH Mānoa students with the rare opportunity to work at the top level of state government under the direction of office staff members. Interns will be assigned tasks in the areas of communications, operations or policy, and will take on an array of tasks, including policy and legislative research, note-taking at meetings and hearings, constituent relations, and event coordination. Interns will work an average of 20 hours per week while earning 6 academic credits to maintain full-time status.
Hawaiʻi Lieutenant Governor’s Office Internship Program
The Hawaiʻi Lieutenant Governor’s Office Internship Program provides UH Mānoa students with the rare opportunity to work at the top level of state government. Interns will be involved in all aspects of the office, including policy and legislative research, constituent correspondence, consular and name change processing, note-taking at meetings, and event organizing. They will have the chance to work with the Lieutenant Governor and his staff. Interns will work an average of 20 hours per week while earning 6 academic credits to maintain full-time status.
Hawaiʻi State Legislature (Spring Semester only) Internship Program
The Hawaiʻi State Legislature Internship Program provides UH Mānoa students with the rare opportunity to work with legislators in both the state House of Representatives and state Senate. Interns will be involved in an experiential learning process that provides insight into elective politics, and the opportunity to observe first-hand the dynamics of legislative decision-making. Interns will work an average of 20 hours per week while earning 6 academic credits to maintain full-time status.
Hawaiʻi Judicial Internship Program
The Hawaiʻi Judicial Internship Program provides UH Mānoa students with the rare opportunity to work within the judicial system for a semester. Intern efforts will span both the Prosecuting Attorney’s and Public Defender’s offices, offering a broad first-hand learning experience in criminal law, from arrest through conviction and parole. Interns will work an average of 20 hours per week while earning 6 academic credits to maintain full-time status.
What the Internships Offer
- Funding to cover cost of attendance for the semester of the internship (based on resident tuition). A scholarship will be added to the student’s overall financial aid package.
- An engaging learning opportunity that bridges classroom academics and the professional world.
- Professional development including the building of communication and teamwork skills, and the establishment of local networks and contacts.
Applicant Qualifications
To be eligible, students must be at the following levels by the starting date of the internship program.
- Level: Undergraduate
- Standing: Junior or Senior
- Minimum GPA: 3.0
- Enrollment Status: Full-Time
- Excellent writing, communication and people skills
- Prodigious work ethic and impeccable reliability
- Office computer experience (i.e. Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Basic research capabilities
- Well-organized with an eye for detail
- Professional demeanor
- Desire to learn
- Interest in public service
The application process for each internship involves submitting multiple documents and completing an interview(s):
- General Application Materials
- Letters of Recommendation
- Internship Specific Essay(s)
- Interview(s) with a faculty panel (and a possible interview with host offices according to their needs)
- Final placement and orientation
All materials are submitted online through the UH STAR Student Scholarship system. Interviews will be scheduled upon submission. It is strongly recommended that applicants compile all finalized application materials prior to beginning the application process.
To apply, log in to the UH STAR Student Scholarships and locate the desired internship by keyword searching.
- U.S. Congressional Internship Program – Keyword: B985
- Hawaiʻi Governor’s and Lieutenant Governor’s Office Internship Program – Keyword: B962
- Hawaiʻi Judicial Internship Program – Keyword: B977
- Hawaiʻi State Legislature Internship Program (Spring Semester only) – Keyword: B984
1. General Application Materials
All internships require that the following materials be submitted through the UH STAR Student Scholarship system.
- PDF version of applicant’s STAR transcripts
- Resume
- Current contact details (email, phone, address)
- Academic background, including extracurricular activities
- Employment background (references not required)
2. Letters of Recommendation
One letter from an academic instructor (past or present) attesting to:
- Qualifications
- Character
- Commitment to public service
One letter from an employer (past or present) attesting to:
- Work ethic
- Maturity and judgment
- Ability to work with others
- Office skills
Please note: During the application process, applicants will specify the names and emails of their “recommenders.” Upon application submission, a request email will be sent to the “recommenders” from starhelp@hawaii.edu. The request email will include a link allowing “recommenders” to submit their letters online. Therefore, applicants should neither collect nor expect to upload the required letters themselves. As a courtesy, be sure to contact “recommenders” beforehand to request permission and inform them of the application deadlines.
3. Internship Specific Essay(s)
The following internship-specific essays must be written with mindful consideration of both topic and word count. Like the materials above, essays are submitted through the UH STAR Student Scholarship system.
U.S. Congressional Internship Program
- Essay Topic: Identify a local and/or national political issue of concern to you. Explain the issue using clear and specific examples. Identify stakeholders involved and their positions. Using perspectives provided by your major program, evaluate how Congress might best serve these stakeholders. (600 words)
- Essay Topic: Visit the congressional office’s websites and Capitol.Hawaii.Gov. Research the special duties, constituencies, caucuses, and committees of the current senators and representatives. Select your preferred office in the Senate and in the House based on this research. Why are you interested in the specific duties and committees of your preferred offices? How might your career goals align with their goals? How will your experience in their office enhance your education and/or help you achieve your career goals? (500 words)*
Please note: Final placement is decided by the congressional offices themselves. You might not be drafted by your first or second choice offices, but might have a chance in another; therefore you should write these essays in a gracious and aspirational tone, not an exclusionary one, aiming to impress any reader.
Hawaiʻi Governor’s Office Internship Program, Hawaiʻi Lieutenant Governor’s Office Internship Program, and the Hawaiʻi State Legislature (Spring Semester only) Internship Program
- Essay Topic: Identify a political issue impacting Hawaiʻi that is of concern to you. Explain the issue using clear and specific examples. Identify stakeholders involved and their positions. Using perspectives provided by your major program, evaluate how congress might best serve these stakeholders. (600 words)
Hawaiʻi Judicial Internship Program
- Essay Topic: Explain the issue using clear and specific examples. Identify stakeholders involved and their positions. Using perspectives provided by your major program, evaluate how Congress might best serve these stakeholders. (600 words)
4. Interview Guide
All applicants will be given the following interview guide and asked to prepare answers before the interview.
- What is your passion? What motivates your interest in civic engagement and public service?
- What unique perspectives or methods will your major program provide you that future offices will find necessary?
- Review your resume for us. What skills have you developed through work or organizational experience that will contribute to your preferred office’s goals?
- Prepare for a review of your political issue statement from our panel. What arguments can you identify that counter your proposed solution? Does your proposed solution ignore the needs or values of a particular stakeholder group?
Please note: Soon after the application deadline, the Program will contact applicants to schedule a mandatory interview with a faculty panel. Available times are limited. Applicants should schedule the interview according to their class schedule, or notify their instructors that they will be absent from a conflicting class. Political offices might ask applicants for a second interview. It is the complete responsibility of the applicant to respond to the office’s requests.
5. Final Placement and Orientation
After successfully applying through UH STAR and interviewing with the faculty panel, applicants’ dossiers will be sent to political offices. Final placement is decided by the offices themselves. If an office passes on an otherwise competitive applicant, their dossier will be sent to another office. Applicants should prepare to be flexible in their appointment, accepting an internship in an unexpected office or a half-time internship after they applied for a full-time one.
All materials must be submitted by the following deadlines:
- Fall Internships: March 15
- Spring Internships: October 15
For questions about the Mānoa Political Internship program, please contact mpin@hawaii.edu or:
