UH Ahupua'a Management Fellowships 2018

Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates (REEU)

Ahupua'a Management Fellowships 2018

Position Description:​ The University of Hawai`i (UH), in partnership with Kupu, is offering undergraduate fellowships for UH students beginning in Summer 2018. Fellows will join a diverse team of UH faculty, natural resource professionals, and cultural and community groups engaged in restoring several Hawaiian ahupua'a. These unique fellowships will involve experiential learning and community-based projects that employ Hawaiian concepts of integrated resource management and traditional land use systems to address current and future challenges to the sustainability and resiliency of the 'āina and people. Fellows will be mentored by a UH-Mānoa faculty member and work closely with a non-profit community group to restore a culturally important ahupua'a on Kaua'i, O'ahu or Hawai'i Island.

Project opportunities will range from sustaining and diversifying traditional food production systems, mapping and monitoring watershed structure and function, studying native wildlife and restoring suitable habitat, assessing threats from climate change and land use development, and analyzing ecosystem service flows from restored watersheds. Fellows will be trained in how to access not only the latest scientific information but also traditional ecological knowledge that is being used to restore the health of our islands and its people. They will also enroll in an upper-division summer course, NREM 467 Natural Resource Conservation Planning, to learn how government agencies and professional organizations develop management plans to promote sustainability and resiliency.

The fellowship is for one year and includes a stipend for project work during the summer as well as funds to support travel and data collection and analysis. Undergraduate students at all UH system campuses are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to students with knowledge of Hawaiian or other Pacific Island languages and protocols for cultural and natural resource management. Students should have completed at least two years of undergraduate coursework by the time the fellowship begins and have academic preparation in agriculture or natural resource management.

Availabilities​: There are 8 positions (2 to 3 positions each on Kaua'i, O'ahu and Hawai'i Island)

Program Dates:​ June 4, 2018 - May 10, 2019 (Training on O'ahu: June 4 - 8, Experiential Learning: June 11 – August 3)

Position Requirements:

● Age​ - Applicants must be at least 17 years of age by program start date (due to AmeriCorps regulations)

● Education​ - Undergraduate enrolled at a University of Hawai`i campus; completed two years of full-time coursework (junior or senior standing); academic preparation in agriculture or natural resource management

● Citizenship​ - Applicants must be one of the following: a US Citizen, US National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien (due to AmeriCorps regulations)

● Criminal History Check​ - Applicants are subject to a criminal history check (due to AmeriCorps regulations)

Benefits:

● $5,000 stipend; $1,000 in project supplies; $500 in travel expenses through UH

● $1,230.69 Education Award through AmeriCorps (upon successful completion of 300 hours of service)

● Student loan deferment available for eligible applicants during Experiential Learning term through AmeriCorps

How to Apply: ​Complete the online application, which can be found at https://kupuhawaii.tfaforms.net/143. Please read ALL instructions and answer questions to the best of your ability. Applicants will need to upload their resume (Microsoft Word or PDF file format) and provide the names and email addresses for two references. An email will be sent to these references directly to complete a questionnaire. Applications must be completed with both references before they will be considered.

Deadline to Apply: March 31, 2018