Hawai‘i Conservation Opportunities Pathways Program

Hawaiʻi critically needs more professional pathways for the workforce, including individuals without a college degree, to access training and certification in biocultural stewardship. We will address this need by leveraging the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit's (PCSU) state-wide conservation network and the educational resources of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. We will develop a five-year program featuring a structured summer internship with PCSU Projects. This initiative will formally establish a pathway for both university degree and non-degree seekers to earn a credential in Applied Conservation Practice, strengthening the local workforce.