POSITION DETAILS
Position Title: Biology Assistant
Park Unit: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
Location: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Number of positions available: 2
Can this position be fully remote: NO
INTERNSHIP DATES AND LENGTH
Duration: 26 Weeks (not flexible)
Start Date: 11/04/2024
Flexible Start Date: YES
LIVING AND RELOCATION ALLOWANCE:
Weekly Stipend: $665.00
Relocation Allowance: $1,050.00
CURRENT NUMBER OF APPLICANTS: Under 75 (This posting will close after receiving 75 complete applications or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 16 June, whichever occurs first.)
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Kaloko-Honokōhau NHP is a 1200-acre national park unit located on the west coast of Hawai‘i Island. The Park was established in 1978 for the preservation, protection, and interpretation of traditional Hawaiian activities and culture. The Park contains spectacular cultural sites and history, Hawaiian fishponds, anchialine pools, native endangered waterbirds and other wildlife, coral reefs, and coastal dryland forest. The participant will assist with a variety of science and field monitoring, and data management activities associated with the Park’s water resources (coral reef, anchialine pool, and Hawaiian fishponds). Primary emphasis of this position will be conducting anchialine pool assessments on over 200 pools within the Park. Kaloko-Honokōhau NHP has some of the highest concentrations of this unique ecosystem, and the work of this internship will make a significant contribution to the Park’s management of the pools. The participant will identify native and non-native plants and invertebrates common to these areas, collect a variety of habitat data from these ecosystems, and use a sonde to collect water parameters. The participant will collect and download GPS data using field GIS techniques and make GIS maps. The participant will perform office work, entering and managing survey data, completing data entry for water resource projects, summarizing data, and performing quality assurance\quality control checks on data entry performed by others. The participant will mine the park’s files for existing data on water resources and will develop a resource brief with an annotated bibliography for an aspect of the park’s water resources.
POSITION IMPACT
The position will contribute toward the conservation, management, research, and interpretation of the Park’s water resources including anchialine pool ecosystems and the native and endangered species that rely on these unique ecosystems.
DELIVERABLES
Work products are the completed anchialine pool surveys, database entries, data summary, associated GIS maps, final report/presentation, and development of least one interpretive product, a Resource Brief, of Park's aquatic resources.
DESIRED INTERN QUALIFICATIONS
A bachelor's degree and coursework in biology, ecology, or other natural resource field of study is preferred; computer skills in Microsoft Office; ability to identify invertebrates and plants to species; experience collecting data including data with GPS equipment; experience in GIS applications and map making, and experience presenting technical and non-technical educational information to the general public about ecosystem restoration and plants and animals invasive to Hawai’i. The participant should be able to swim, be comfortable around water. Knowledge of Hawaiian culture is not required but is helpful.
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal permanent resident (“Green Card holder”). Prior to starting this position, a government security background clearance will be required. The applicant must be available to participate for 26 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
WORK SETTING
Physical/Natural Environment: The Park is located in Kailua-Kona on the island of Hawaii, approximately three miles from the Kona International Airport and five miles northwest of Kailua-Kona. The park is at sea level and averages less than 25 inches of rainfall annually. It includes three beaches and extensive archeological ruins. Complete shopping facilities and rental units are available in Kailua-Kona. This is a high cost of living area. Hospital and medical facilities are five to ten miles away. Public schools are conveniently located within the surrounding area and distant bus service is provided for students. No public transportation is available. For more information, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/kaho and the park's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Kalok... Consideration: The island of Hawai'i is periodically subject to high concentrations of volcanic fumes (VOG), especially sulfur dioxide gasses and fine particulates. The fumes are known to be hazardous to an unborn fetus, and persons with heart and respiratory problems. The Kona coast experiences VOG conditions throughout the year. Long-term effects on normal healthy persons are unknown.
Work Environment: Work involves field conditions of moderate to heavy physical stress in a hot, humid, and sunny environment with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis. Work involves hiking carrying equipment. Other work will involve a variety of sedentary tasks in an office setting including sitting in front of computers for prolonged periods of time.
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
- A personal vehicle is REQUIRED for this position.
HOUSING
Park housing is NOT available. The intern will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area. Open market rental studios and rooms in shared houses cost approximately $800 - $1500/month. Craigslist, Marketplace, and West Hawaii Today classifieds are the best sources for locating housing.
KEYWORDS
Anchialine pools, data collection, species identification, coastal ecosystems, database, groundwater, GIS, resource management
IMPORTANT NOTICES
This posting will close after receiving 75 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 16 June, whichever occurs first. Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks Intern positions per winter. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.)
LEARN MORE
https://www.scientistsinparks.org/