Record-setting summer for internship opportunities
by Donica Kaneshiro | Nov. 20, 2023
Although the holidays are not yet upon us, many departments are already looking ahead to the summer and planning projects and programs for the incoming intern class.
This year, we are offering a record-setting 47 summer internship opportunities in our company. The unique positions offer students a chance to get real world experience with mentors in departments throughout the company, while offering our managers way to access fresh ideas and a pipeline to new talent.
One of those interns last year was Honolulu Community College student Micah Rabanal, who is majoring in Occupational Environmental Safety, and Health Management. Micah worked in Safety and is now a project aide in the department.
Micah graduated from Farrington High School in 2010. He served for 11 years in the Hawaii Air National Guard as a munitions systems inspector and works as an electrician at Pearl Harbor.
“My personal belief is once you come to a point where you feel like not learning, it’s time to move on,” Micah said. “Life’s too short to be complacent. You should always be wanting to improve yourself.”
“I probably learned more in the past five months (in Safety) than I learned in the past two years,” he added.
Micah’s supervisor and mentor, Kyle Toyama, shared: “Micah joined our team and was able to jump right in and complete various projects under my supervision. One project, in particular, was to reassess our Hearing Conservation Program. I worked with Micah to develop a monitoring plan, and the data he gathered moved us one step closer to completing our assessments. He was very engaged and enthusiastic, and we hope, through this internship, he gained a good understanding of the work we do in Safety and how it impacts the safety of our employees.”
In addition to working on projects in their assigned areas, interns participate in networking events with peers and leaders, and get a tour of our facilities. These activities provide interns with a more comprehensive understanding of our work at Hawaiian Electric and offers insights into their potential future careers.
“Coming to Hawaiian Electric to learn how to do Safety really established a baseline for me,” Micah said. “I got to see what the culture was like, just in the company itself, and I can honestly say I love it.”
Micah said he learned about the internship from Safety Professional Karissa Racoma, who had previously interned before being hired by our company. In turn, Micah has started talking to other students, spreading the word about the valuable experience he gained interning and encouraging them to apply.
If you know someone who would be a great addition to the Hawaiian Electric intern ohana, encourage them to apply by Dec. 15 at https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/careers/summer-internship-program.
Donica Kaneshiro is a communications consultant at Hawaiian Electric Company.
