The Climate Champions Program
Applications for the 2024 Climate Champions Program are now closed.
Resilience Office staff and Climate Champions at Loko Ea Fishpond.
What is the Climate Champions Program?
The Climate Champions Program pairs community-based organizations with a Climate Champion Intern who will implement a project that will help the organization adapt to the impacts of climate change. This program was created in response to perspectives shared during the community engagement process for the City's climate adaptation strategy called "Climate Ready Oʻahu." It is jointly hosted by the six community-based organizations listed below and the City and County of Honolulu’s Resilience Office.
The City was awarded a $1 million dollar grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Grant to continue this program through 2026. Interested in interning with one of the organizations this summer? Apply to the open positions below!
Program Details
Program Dates: May through August, 2024, with orientation in the evening of April 29th
Program Design: Climate Champions (interns) will be placed at one of the below six organizations. This is a part-time paid internship with weekly work expectations ranging from 5-20 hours/week for 4 months. Orientation for all six Climate Champions will occur in April 2024, with the program launching in May, and a celebratory hōʻike in September 2024.
Applicant Requirements:
Must be 16 years or older
Students and kūpuna are encouraged to apply!
Benefits:
Paid, part-time internship
Participate in professional development opportunities and workshops hosted by the City and County of Honolulu Resilience Office
Make a positive impact in your community
How to Apply: Applications are closed for the 2024 cohort. Applications for the 2025 cohort will open in spring 2025.
2024 Project Descriptions
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Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization
Project: Educate your community about becoming Firewise-certified. Take action at the local level around wildfire preparedness and community resilience.
5-10 hours/week in your O’ahu neighborhood
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Trees for Honolulu's Future
Project 1: Provide stewardship for newly planted trees at Makalapa Park and support efforts to improve the resilience of the park.
Project 2: Redesign and promote the Treemendous card game as a tool for educating students about the science, health and cultural significance of local tree species
5 hours/week. Seeking 2 champions.
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Mālama Learning Center
Project: Support our efforts to grow native and food plants, while educating the community about our work at these sites as it relates to climate change adaptation and mitigation.
18 hours/week in Kapolei
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KEY Project
Project: Support efforts to grow native and food plants. Coordinate and raise awareness for fighting the invasion of little fire ants.
19 hours/week in Kahaluʻu
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MAʻO Organic Farms
Project: Integrate climate change throughout the development of our Indigenous Agroecology Strategy, a five year plan to establish, implement and sustainably manage our farm.
20-25 hours/week in Waiʻanae
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Mālama Loko Ea Foundation
Project: Build community resilience through developing and piloting environmental justice/climate education and community workshops.
20 Hours/week in Haleʻiwa
Cohort 1 (2023)
The Climate Champions Program was successfully piloted during the summer of 2023 in partnership with five community-based organizations. These organizations provided space and support for Climate Champions to implement climate adaptation projects that advance both the organization's mission and implementation of aspects of Climate Ready Oʻahu. Check out the video for an overview of the pilot program.
