Career Spotlights

What is a “Natural Resources Career”? Play the video below!

Check out some of the different careers you can have in conservation here in Hawaiʻi! Click into the posters below!

Click into the infographic below to see trends regarding conservation careers in Hawaiʻi!

Natural Resource Jobs in Hawaiʻi*

Download the Posters Here!

*Characterizing Hawaiʻi’s Natural Resources Management Sector: Jobs, Education, Salaries, and Expenditures, 2024.

Scroll below to check out featured Career Spotlights (written and video interviews) of real-life conservation professionals in Hawaiʻi demonstrating the expanse of conservation careers. These professionals share what a typical work day is like for them, the pathway they took to their current position, and career advice!

Navigator Spotlight Series

Produced by the Hawai’i Conservation Alliance & Foundation, this series features written and video interviews with current conservation professionals here in Hawaiʻi demonstrating the expanse of the conservation field. They take a deeper dive into the Navigator as a person to see what their pathway was, what they learned along the way, what advice they have to share, and what their day to day looks like.

Brenda Asuncion

Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA)

Loko Iʻa Coordinator

Ulalia Woodside

The Nature Conservancy – Hawaiʻi

Executive Director

Melissa Price

Dept. Of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM), UH Mānoa

Assistant Professor

Conservation Connections Mini Interviews

In the Conservation Connections Mini Interviews, produced by the Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance & Foundation, our staff interview both students and career professionals in the conservation field about their work, Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference, career advice, and more! Watch these videos to learn more about the different opportunities available in conservation here in Hawaiʻi and gain insight into a conservation career!

Emily Chan

DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Kupu Member Corps Member with East Hawaiʻi Wildlife

Episode 11: Conservation Connections @ HCC

Sydney Cook

DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)

Kupu Member with the Invasive Species Team

Episode 10: Conservation Connections @ HCC

Joby Rohrer

Army Natural Resource Program Oʻahu (ANRPO)

Operations Manager

Episode 9: Conservation Connections @ HCA Steering Committee Meeting

See Yourself in NR Careers Series

Produced by Kupu, this series invites you to hear from local professionals in the NR a collection of videos talking about their jobs and the exciting and surprising things they involve.

Michael Lee

Moanalua Gardens Foundation

Director of Education and Stewardship

Do you dream of inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards?

Keliʻi Kotubetey

Paepae o Heʻeia

Assistant Executive Director

Ever wonder what working at a loko iʻa (traditional fishpond) involves?

Lindsey Nietmann

Department of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW)

Wildlife Biologist

What’s a wildlife biologist?

Meet the People of Forestry & Wildlife

Produced by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DoFAW). Who works at Forestry and Wildlife, and why do they choose to work here? Our staff are just like you: they’re people who care about Hawai‘i and are trying to help maintain and enhance the natural resources that make Hawai‘i a special place. If you’re interested in interning or working with us, or you’re just curious about what we do, watch the videos below to meet some our staff, hear about their work, why they do it, and their advice to anyone considering working in this field. You can learn more here!