Connecting with the next generation
by Donica Kaneshiro | Dec. 4, 2024
Hawaiian Electric summer interns contribute their fresh perspectives to company projects as they garner real-world experiences and connect with professionals in their field. Many interns even return as full-time employees.
As the company seeks applicants for our 2025 summer internships, last year’s interns shared their experiences. Although they are with us for only six weeks, some interns found themselves working on key company initiatives like our Public Safety Power Shutoff program.
“I believe the greatest experience was the hands-on nature of the internship,” said 2024 intern Kaianna Kaneshiro. “I got to meet execs and interact with people across the organization, and I think that opportunity is rare, especially for companies as large as Hawaiian Electric. I can’t say I would get the same experience elsewhere, where everyone is so connected, and opportunities are plentiful.”
Engineering standards intern Taryn Tyau agreed that her coworkers shaped her experience. “Every person that I got to interact with, whether they were engineers, corporate, linemen or interns, were all wonderful people with great advice,” she said.
Grand Canyon University student Logan Waltjen, Transmission and Distribution intern, agreed. “Everyone was so welcoming and helpful,” he said.
Logan said he will remember going to Maui to help with the PSPS zones where he learned about pole inspection and the overhead standards required for power distribution.
Taryn said the highlight of her summer was seeing the impact of her work firsthand on Maui.
“The most memorable moment interning at Hawaiian Electric was flying over to Maui and being able to help with Maui’s PSPS wildfire efforts,” she said. “The engineering interns were incredibly lucky to have this experience.”
University of Southern California student Kaianna created video and print newsletters for the Emergency Planning and Preparedness department during her internship.
“Creating and developing newsletters has allowed me, as a media arts student, to create media funded in research and information to create visual media that resonates with an audience,” she said.
All interns are offered unique opportunities that not many outside the company experience, such as a participating in a power plant tour and a diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging workshop. Interns also network with company executives and other leaders, as well as former interns.
Taryn has since returned to classes at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, but her experience is helping her to rethink her career path. “I’ve learned that there are even more on-island career options for my major than I had thought,” she said.
Logan said he thinks his internship has given him a head start on his course and his career planning.
“My internship has helped me discover that I could see myself working for Hawaiian Electric in the future,” he said.
For summer 2025, Hawaiian Electric is seeking 35 interns in a wide variety of positions across 22 departments. If you know a college student interested in interning on Oahu, Hawaii Island or Maui, encourage them to visit https://careers.hawaiianelectric.com/ for an internship.
For more information on our summer internship program, click here.
Donica Kaneshiro is a communications consultant at Hawaiian Electric.
