About the Internship Site

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a U.S. federal agency whose mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. It provides critical information and services for the protection of life and property, supports the national economy, and conserves and manages coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Inouye Regional Center is a state-of-the-art, 350,000-square-foot building on Pearl Harbor’s Ford Island, or Moku‘ume‘ume, on the island of O‘ahu. The center houses approximately 700 staff and focuses on sustainable research and administration for NOAA’s mission, while also honoring Pacific Region traditions and the island’s ecology. The facility operates its own weather and communication dishes, it houses wet and dry research laboratories, has multiple pool-sized seawater tanks for marine animal rehabilitation, a 24-7 tsunami warning operation center, and its own pier facilities for NOAA’s Pacific Region research and fisheries enforcement vessels.

Meet Our Internship Mentor

Leon was born and raised on Oʻahu and is the proud father of two young daughters. As the Education and Outreach Specialist at the Inouye Regional Center, he collaborates with NOAA staff throughout the region on student, teacher and public engagement, with a focus on climate education. He received his B.S. in Global Environmental Science, M.Ed. in Education Technology, and a teaching certification in secondary education from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Prior to NOAA, Leon taught middle and high school Earth, Physical, and Environmental Science, served as adjunct faculty at Hawaii Pacific University, and led the Bishop Museum science education department. In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball, tennis, hiking, and stand-up paddle boarding.

Internship duties and responsibilities:

Self-motivated students (3 max) who can work independently and in teams. Strong science communication and writing skills and familiarity with Google Suite. Passionate about learning something new everyday!