Powering up careers

When looking for your first professional job, it’s often about who you know — the classmate who turns into a colleague, the advisor who turns into a resume reference and often most importantly, the internship mentor who just might turn into your boss.

I relied on all those connections when I landed my first “real job” at a newspaper way back when. And though many things have changed in career recruitment, those personal connections still prove a solid source of finding local talent at companies like Hawaiian Electric.

“Our internships are like an extended interview,” said Nani Miyashiro, strategic workforce planning specialist. “If they jive with the team, and they go to school here in Hawaii, a lot of the departments do offer them the ability to convert to project aide and stay with us part time.”

That’s how it worked for Jonathan Fang, Telecomm engineer I, who interned in 2025. Jonathan found out about the internship program from Natalia Lagmay, senior rate analyst in Pricing, who taught one of Jonathan’s classes at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Although Jonathan majored in management information systems, he was placed in Telecomm Engineering as an intern, which he admits wasn’t on his radar at all.

Jonathan said his studies dealt largely with computers but also taught him how to logically assemble systems. “I think that’s why I ended up enjoying this field,” he said. As a student, he also had a job in network operations at UH that provided relevant experience.

Nani said the internships can help spread awareness of job opportunities that students may not realize they have the skillset for.

“It helps create that pathway, that knowledge of what’s out there, or what field you can go into based off your interests,” she said.

Hawaiian Electric internships focus largely on a clearly defined project that students work on over the course of their 10-week stint, but they also incorporate opportunities for interns to tour a power plant and network with company leaders and each other, as well as former interns who now work at the company.

In Jonathan’s internship, he worked on the company’s LTE connectivity and was able to continue with our company as a project aide. At the end of his term as a project aide, he said he gratefully accepted a full-time position with the company.

“I thought I was going to have to wait like two more years for a job, but it’s been interesting learning the ropes of the utility,” he said. “I feel like I have a passion for the field.”

Karen Relosimon, HR generalist, began her Hawaiian Electric journey as an intern in 2023, when the company’s Employee Resource Groups were being implemented. Karen said helping with the ERG rollout allowed her to meet many people from across the company.

After her internship, Karen was hired as a project aide in Compensation until she graduated from UH. She rejoined the company when a full-time position opened.

“Making those connections with everyone was good, because when that opportunity came up, they were able to say, ‘I think you would really enjoy this,’” Karen said.

Kelii Opulauoho, manager of Organizational Development and Learning and Karen’s mentor during her internship, said internships are a partnership.

“It’s 50–50, the student brings with them the motivation, but then the mentor creates the environment and the support of other team members,” he said.

While part-time project aide positions are best suited for local college students finishing their degrees, our company also hires interns from mainland schools, most with Hawaii ties.

“It provides a pathway to bring our kids back home,” Nani said.

Karen said she’s having “a full-circle moment” as she helps with talent recruitment in her current position.

“There are so many opportunities for people here,” she said. “In general, the most important quality for interns is just being comfortable with being uncomfortable. You just learn as you go.”

This year’s summer interns started with Hawaiian Electric in May and June; those interested in applying for an internship in 2027 can watch for application opportunities on our Careers page in fall.