The number of BYU–Hawaii students securing professional internships has increased significantly over the past three years, providing students with opportunities that enhance their college experience and jump-start their careers.
During 2024, roughly 269 BYUH students completed internships, which increased to 341 in 2025. With five months remaining in 2026, this year’s count of 342 student interns has already eclipsed previous years and is expected to continue rising before the end of the year. Alongside this growth, expanded funding has helped more students pursue internships throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Building Pathways to Professional Experience
When asked about the sudden increase in student internships, Ikaia Nawahine, career planning and placement manager in Career Services, said students see the value of practical experience, and employers are looking for candidates with hands-on learning.
"Experience on a resume goes a long way," Nawahine said. "Internships, competitions, and career forums help separate students from everyone else."
Nawahine says he and his team have been doubling their efforts over the last 18 months to build partnerships with other major organizations, including some of the world’s largest IT companies, the biggest bank in Mongolia, one of the best social services organizations in New Zealand, big-name brands in the Philippines such as Deloitte, Ayala 917Ventures, and Robinsons Hotel, and more.
“These are major companies that we have brought to campus, and we have been intentional about highlighting the value of BYU–Hawaii students,” said Nawahine. “As a result, it has led not only to internship opportunities but also job opportunities for our students.”
“Those types of experiences—being able to intern with Deloitte or Robinsons Hotels—say something on a resume and catch someone’s eye during an interview,” he added.
For Angelou Revil Pacia, a junior from the Philippines majoring in psychology and political science, those opportunities have already made an impact. Revil, who is completing an internship with the Hawaii State Senate, said the experience has allowed her to apply what she has learned in the classroom to real-world issues. "I think it's really nice because now I'm able to put everything that I learn in class into real life," she said.
Spreading the Word
Beyond creating more internship opportunities, Career Services has also focused on making sure students know these opportunities exist. Nawahine said the office has expanded its outreach efforts through classroom presentations, workshops, social media, emails, peer counselors, and pop-up events.
"We've started being much more intentional in highlighting these opportunities,” he said. “We've seen just under a 68% increase in our classroom presentations as faculty and professors invite us to speak on topics like resume preparation, interview skills, and the internship application process."
According to Nawahine, expanding outreach has been one factor contributing to the continued rise in internship participation.
Making Internships More Accessible
As the growth of internships progresses, Career Services has adopted financial support to help students sustain and pursue these opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. The Yamagata Fund, provided by a generous benefactor to support career opportunities for BYUH students, is one of several funding sources available to help offset costs associated with internships in the Asia-Pacific region.
"[The Yamagata Fund] does not fully cover all expenses,” said Nawahine. “It is meant to support students and offset some of the costs. It helps with airfare and provides funding that can go toward expenses such as housing, food, ground transportation like taxis or buses."
"When we sat down in late 2024 and early 2025 to figure out how to best increase learning opportunities for our students, it became clear that financially supporting students would be a major way to allow more students to participate,” he explained. "We wanted to open more opportunities for funding so students would feel more inclined to pursue internships in the Asia-Pacific region, which aligns perfectly with the university’s mission."
BYUH Career Services funded 101 students in 2025 through multiple funding sources. In 2026, that number has already increased to 144 approved students, reflecting the office's continued investment in expanding access to internships.
Moving Forward
Career Services at BYU–Hawaii hopes to continue expanding internship opportunities while preparing students for successful careers after graduation. Nawahine said the office's goal is not only to increase the number of internships but also to ensure students are equipped with the experience, skills, and professional connections needed to succeed.
As internship participation continues to grow, Career Services encourages students from all majors to explore opportunities and take advantage of the resources available.
