Hawaii Research Expeditions (& Internships)

May 20 - 27, 2023

 The Big Island of Hawaii

137 islands and atolls stretching across 1,500 miles together form the Hawaiian archipelago, yet only 7 are inhabited by today’s Hawaiian population. Hawai’i -- also called The Big Island -- is the largest geographically and home to some of the most diverse ecosystems of the region. From Kiluaea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, to Mauna Kea with a summit just under 14,000 feet, it’s obvious why so many people hope to experience the natural beauty and energy found on the island. Global Treks and Adventures is seeking research assistants to assist in the development of upcoming digital/interactive publications to the region highlighting the local biodiversity and culture. The goal of the publications will provide readers with fast access to the information they need to make the most out of their adventure to the Big Island.

Global Treks Research in hawaii

The research expeditions during the summer of 2023 in Hawaii will focus on conducting cultural and environmental field research in order to expand our publications highlighting the local beaches, trails and culture. Researchers will travel to Hawaii for 8 days of field research and then spend 2-3 months, before and after the field research, synthesizing the information to be included in the digital e-books and website. The ultimate goal is to provide travelers with insight into the culture and natural world they will be traveling through. This will include information on the island's geography, geology, wildlife, plants, marine life, natural resources, hiking trails, economy, historic and current culture as well as tourism and its impacts. 

Researchers will complete pre-trip investigative research, conduct action research for one week in Hawaii and spend 2-3 months wrapping up the research from their home or university during the remaining summer or fall semester. Field research in Hawaii will be 8 days in either July or August depending on the team selected.  

Research Objective #1: Interactive Digital Field guide and E-Book to local trails and beaches

Researchers will assist our team in exploring and documenting numerous hiking trails and beaches available on the Big Island in order to collect environmental, cultural, and trail information for the upcoming digital publication we are developing. Primary research will focus on the numerous day hikes beach options available — including naturalist and cultural information to help people understand the world they are traveling through. We are looking for research assistants to help us collect information on: GIS mapping, common plants and wildlife encountered on the trails, habitats and ecosystems, geography, geology, tourism impacts, Hawaiian culture, myths and legends, cultural norms, travel and trail logistics, trail descriptions, photography, video production, travel blogging and other relevant information.

Research Objective #2: Anthology of Hawaii e-book

The researchers on the cultural teams will be assisting our team in developing an Anthology of Hawaii digital publication which will include photographic essays and narratives on the local Hawaiian culture and their environment. This will include topics such as tourism impacts, sustainability, geothermal energy, natural resources, geology, environmental topics, cultural norms, racism, gender roles, family dynamics, immigration, police culture, crime, photography, and other creative writing pieces. 

What you will gain from this internship

1. Earn outdoor leadership certifications in: Certificate in Sustainable Tourism and Risk Management Level 1.

2. You become a contributor in a Global Treks publication (print, ebook, website, or app).

3. Gain experience designing, researching, collecting, and synthesizing data.

4. Experience traveling abroad and immersing yourself in another culture. 

5. The opportunity to participate in and complete a collaborative project with fellow researchers.

6. Build an impressive resume with job experience that will set you apart from other candidates.

Certifications Earned on this expedition

1. Certificate in Sustainable Tourism — students will learn the main principles of how to interact with both urban and wilderness settings leaving as minimal impact as possible. Students will be able to both implement best practice into their daily actions and further lead by example for other travelers near and far.

2. Risk Management Level 1 — learning to assess risk is a potentially life-saving skill Global Treks feels everyone should practice even in their normal day-to-day surroundings. Global Treks students will be learn how to perform an objective analysis at the introductory level prior to participating in any type of adventure or outdoor activity providing crucial training to take forward on their professional or recreational paths. This certification serves as the prerequisite for the Global Treks Risk Management Level 2 Training Course.

What you can expect

We work with each intern/researcher to set up an individualized topic of research. Working weekly with your Research Director, interns spend 10-15 hours per week for the first couple of weeks working remotely from home or school researching their assigned topic. Interns then spend 1 week conducting action research in Hawaii. It is during this time interns investigate their research topic and document the findings gathered through surveys, observations, interviews, literature reviews, and photographs to include in the publication. Each research team is made up of 8-10 researchers and 2 lead researchers/instructors. Interns spend approximately 10 hours per week for the 2 months following the field research working with their Research Director to develop their contribution to the book. Our office team and editors provide assistance and feedback on each intern’s chapter content and grammar. Once the book is published, each contributing researcher’s name will appear on the inside front cover as well as in the back of the book with the team’s biographies and head shots.

The interview process

These internships are competitive (over 600 applicants during the first 3 months of our 2021 spring hiring season) and we encourage applicants to be yourself while also putting effort into their application. The online application is a series of short answer questions designed for Global Treks to get to know the candidate, their background, and their personality. Our teams are small, intimate and efficient and we look for positive and dynamic people to help us make the best publication possible. Once your application is submitted, selected candidates will be contacted for a phone interview. Upon completion of the interview, our selection committee meets once a week to determine the best candidates for each team. If a candidate is offered an internship we provide access to the team’s private expedition page with all of the information needed for the travel and research. Our team will also develop a personalized research plan for each intern research assistant. We are also more than happy to help organize internship credit through the intern’s university.

THE Kona research base

Our team will be quite spoiled this year as we embrace the world Covid has created. The Global Treks Team will be based in two separate housing condos both located at the Keauhou Kona Surf and Racquet Club just outside Kona, Hawaii. The research base if located on 17 acres of land, shares grounds with an ancient Hawaiian archaeological site and is right on the western coast of the Big Island. Each unit composed of a kitchen, living room, several bedrooms and bathrooms. While bedrooms will be a mix of shared queen/king and twin beds, inflatable mattresses are provided for those that prefer their own space. The separate units provides plenty of space for everyone to spread out and enjoy the fresh ocean air! Amenities on site includes 3 lit tennis courts, a large swimming pool and close access to epic snorkeling, restaurants and shops. Two vehicles driven by the head instructors will be utilized for group transport for hikes, meetings and cultural gatherings.

travel Costs: $2,500

What’s included: The fee covers lodging, supplies, food, local transportation, and access to educational, natural history, and cultural centers. Basically, once we pick you up at the airport in Kona you would not have to spend a penny unless you would like to purchase souvenirs or other optional personal expenses.

What’s not included: Airfare transportation to Hawaii not included. We are more than happy to help you book your flight. Flights typically start around $400 depending on your location. We will meet you at the Kona airport (airport code KOA) with our company shirts on and a sign that says, “Global Treks.”

*We are happy to assist with scholarship applications and working with your university in order to receive credit.

Ready to Apply?

Hawaii Expedition Week Schedule

Expeditions with Global Treks are unlike any other field research experience on earth. The research we conduct is hands-on, relevant, and applicable to each intern’s academic and career goals. The places we explore are far beyond the realms of a standard classroom. But, what’s it like to live the experience? 

DAY 1: ARRIVAL DAY
After arriving at the airport and meeting with your team, today is spent acclimating to your new home abroad.  Orientation is provided to your research base and surrounding area. The team spends time getting to know one another and the week’s agenda is outlined in detail.

DAYS 2 – 8: RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION TIME
Research days are absolutely PACKED to the max. Interns work collaboratively as they visit various locations around the country collecting data. Specific data collection techniques match each specific research project. For example, geographers and biologists will collect data via interviews, GPS data point collection and observational species surveys. Anthropology and cultural studies projects will focus more on participant-observations, interviews, photography and collecting film footage. 

Interviews are conducted with professionals, government officials, business owners and employees, everyday citizens and local villagers. Interviews provide depth to the publication by representing as many perspectives as possible for the audience reading the publication. Interns work together throughout their time together to collect data and organize the publication. 

Each evening, researchers work with their guides and directors to expand field notes, learn new field techniques, set goals for the following day and attend various research or writing-related workshops. Each day’s agenda is reviewed the prior evening and interns are held accountable daily for their field notes and progress.

Hawaii Highlights

STILL CURIOUS?

Check out past intern’s videos of their research expedition to Iceland in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Our videographers will be present with select teams in Hawaii providing a glimpse into our tropical research hub near Kona.

What past interns have to say about their experience:

ADAM WEAVER   |  PATAGONIA

"I think this experience has been and will continue to be very beneficial for me because of the opportunity it has provided me to conduct independent research, work with various professionals, and receive constructive feedback on my work from highly intelligent and caring people."

AIMEE BONE   |  UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

"The expedition exceeded my goals in that it was beyond what I hoped for! I cannot say enough about what a life-changing experience it was. I wanted to have a short-term experience abroad, wanted to push myself past my comfort zone, and an opportunity to write for a publication is a dream come true since childhood."

SARAH SPAULDING   |  CARSON-NEWMAN UNIVERSITY

Through this internship I learned how to form effective interview questions, talk to people productively, think abstractly about broad subjects, appreciate people and culture, and embrace the incredible natural world we live in.

Where are they now?

Greg Farley

Greg was a researcher on the 2016 San Juan Islands expedition. He helped to build the GIS maps for the Naturalist Guide to the San Juan Islands. Greg now works as a Human Geographer and Geospatial Analyst for a federal agency.

Katherine Kavanaugh

Katherine was a researcher on our 2017 Iceland Research Expedition. She helped map some of the first hiking trails of our Trail Guide project. Katherine currently works with NASA mapping climate change.

Adam Weaver

Adam was a researcher on one of our Iceland research teams with the responsibility to explore Iceland’s dynamic history and economy. Adam now works for Patagonia in California.

Lauren Caine

Lauren jumped into Iceland’s Search and Rescue Teams and the world of disaster relief. Following the expedition, Lauren is now working with FEMA helping with disaster relief management around the United States.

Molly Mann

Molly was a researcher on the Spanish Virgin Islands team utilizing her passion for creative writing to capture life on the archipelago. Molly now works with a publication company in Nashville and maintains a travel blog.

Jackie Bussjaeger

Jackie was on our Apostle Islands research team. She researched and wrote about the history of the islands. Jackie now works with Global Treks as an editor as well as a writer for the White Bear Lake Newspaper.

GLOBAL TREKS AND ADVENTURES, LLC PRIDES ITSELF IN FOLLOWING FEDERAL FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT FOR INTERNSHIPS. THE FOLLOW DESCRIBES THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARY OF THIS RELATIONSHIP:

1. Internships with Global Treks and Adventure are designed to provide real world training similar to that provided in an educational environment, including the clinical and other hands-on training provided by the intern’s educational institution. Our field research interns take the skill-sets they have learned in the classroom and apply them to real-world settings.

2. Internships with Global Treks and Adventure are designed to comport with the intern’s formal education program by integrating coursework or the receipt of academic credit.

3. Internships with Global Treks and Adventure are designed to accommodate the intern’s academic commitments by corresponding to the intern’s academic calendar. Field research opportunities correspond with academic breaks, taking advantage of the time available to travel to our field research locations.

4. Internships with Global Treks and Adventure are limited in duration for the purpose of providing the intern with beneficial learning.

5. Internships with Global Treks and Adventure are designed to ensure the intern’s individualized academic studies complement, rather than displace, the work of Global Treks and Adventure’s paid employees while providing significant educational benefits to the intern.

6. Interns participating in Global Treks and Adventure’s Internship Program expressly understand and agree that their participation therein is without entitlement to and/or any expectation of a paid job at the conclusion of their internship. While former interns have continued to work with Global Treks following their internship experience, Global Treks and Adventures disclaims any promise of a paid job at the conclusion of an internship, express or implied.

7. All internships with Global Treks and Adventure are unpaid with the intern expressly understanding and agreeing that they have no expectation of any monetary compensation. Global Treks and Adventures disclaims any promise of compensation, express or implied.