MARINE NATURALIST INTERNSHIPS

Inspiring the next generation of ocean advocates

Join our passionate team of dedicated marine naturalists & animal care experts at the Maui Ocean Center for an immersive experience working with Hawai‘i’s marine life!

Maui Ocean Center, the aquarium of Hawai‘i, is a regional aquarium located in central Maui, showcasing marine life only found throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Our three-acre facility circulates 1.2 million gallons of water daily and is a premier learning environment for marine stewardship. Maui Ocean Center is home to a variety of marine life, including: coral, fish, sea jellies, eels, lobsters, sea turtles, sharks & more!

Students are mentored by industry professionals in several departments to gain an interdisciplinary understanding of the aquarium industry. All interns are expected to support Maui Ocean Center’s mission “to inspire wonder, understanding and respect for Hawai‘i’s marine life.”

Gain valuable knowledge & experience in the following topics:

Career-building skills such as resume-writing, interviewing, monitoring program hours, and cultivating professional relationships with peers, staff, and the program coordinator.
Participate in educational presentations, interpretation of exhibits, and interactive learning programs on topics including, but not limited to: oceanography, marine biology, species identification, marine threats, conservation, and more.
Demonstrate exemplary customer service and create positive guest engagement opportunities daily.
Perform basic care and maintenance of marine exhibits, curate animal health & nutrition, and evaluate water quality for effective animal husbandry in an aquarium facility.
Complete a final project and give a presentation to mentoring staff and park guests.
Understand the stewardship role we all have for Hawai‘i’s marine life.
Cultivating your “next steps” in the field of marine science.

requirements:

Must be currently enrolled in a high school or university.
Must be a minimum of 16 years old (high school) or 18 (college).
Maui Ocean Center adheres to all educational and liability requirements for juveniles regulated by Hawai‘i’s Department of Education – (see application)
Must be able to dedicate 7-8 hours per day for a consecutive 5 weekdays (high school), or 10 weekdays (college).
Must have reliable transportation and housing for the duration of their internship program (Maui Ocean Center does not offer housing or remuneration).
Must feel comfortable engaging with park visitors in individual, small group, and large audience scenarios – including speaking on a microphone.
Must be able to physically navigate the facility, including able to access animal exhibits and behind-the-scenes areas (uneven ground, slippery floors, steps, stairs, ladders, etc.)
Must be interested & willing to learn, have a positive attitude, strong work ethic, team-oriented, responsible, enthusiastic & flexible.
Interns are required to complete a final project and present it to the staff and/or the guests at the end of the internship (*this may be combined with school assignments if guidelines are similar).
Students wishing to earn school/college credit for the internship must coordinate with their college & the Maui Ocean Center internship program coordinator in sufficient time to make the appropriate arrangements.
Preference given to students currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment at an accredited school or university in the state of Hawai‘i, studying marine sciences, environmental sciences, animal husbandry & aquarium systems, education & interpretation, or related fields.

Internship Application:

To apply for the Maui Ocean Center internship program, applicants must submit the following:

MARINE NATURALIST INTERNSHIPS

Inspiring the next generation of ocean advocates

Gain valuable knowledge & experience in the following topics:

requirements:

Internship Application:

STAY CONNECTED TO OUR OCEAN.

VISIT

Experiences

Exhibits

Conservation

About

EVENTS

MARINE NATURALIST INTERNSHIPS

Inspiring the next generation of ocean advocates

Gain valuable knowledge & experience in the following topics:

requirements:

Internship Application:

Closed Sunday Aug 16

Special Notice — August 8, 2026

Our Reef Café will be open all day!