Kupukupu Internship - Ho'okipa Intern

Kualoa Ranch•Kaneohe, HI

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Kupukupu is the name of a native Hawaiian fern that grows in wahi pana, sacred, storied places. It is one of the first plants to regenerate after disturbance, signaling that the land is alive and healing. Its root word, kupu, means to sprout, to grow from the earth. Kualoa Ranch named this program Kupukupu because it reflects exactly what we ask of our interns: take root in a place that matters, do real work, and grow. In skill, in knowledge, and in connection to this land and its people. Kualoa’s mission is to enrich people’s lives by preserving its sacred lands and celebrating their history. Kupukupu interns are not observers of that mission. They are living it. The Guest Experience, Tour Operations & Sales Intern is a working member of Kualoa Ranch’s front-line hospitality teams. This is not a passive role. Interns handle real guest interactions, operate equipment, deliver cultural narration, and contribute directly to the operations that make Kualoa one of Hawaiʻi’s most celebrated destinations. Over six weeks, interns rotate through six departments: Guest Experience Ambassador, Ticket Office, UTV, Tours, Zipline, E-Bike, Horseback + Secret Island. Each rotation is built around the departments’ actual work, not curated internship tasks, so interns develop real skills, real confidence, and a genuine understanding of how Kualoa’s guest experience operates from every angle. As a frontline representative of Kualoa Ranch, the Track 2 intern embodies hoʻokipa, the art of generous, culturally grounded hospitality, in every guest interaction.

Requirements

Current college student or recent graduate.
Kamaʻāina applicants strongly encouraged.
Strong verbal communication and public speaking skills; comfortable engaging groups of all sizes.
Customer service experience with the ability to remain calm, friendly, and professional.
Valid driver’s license.
Willingness to work in all weather and across all departments for the full 6 weeks.
Energetic, self-motivated, and positive in high-volume guest environments.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in hospitality, tourism, outdoor recreation, or customer service.
Familiarity with Hawaiian culture, history, and the significance of Kualoa Ranch.
Experience operating off-road, large, or specialized vehicles.
Bilingual ability (Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, or Spanish) — a strong asset in guest-facing roles.
CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain before program start).
Background in storytelling, performance, education, or cultural interpretation.

Responsibilities

Deliver engaging, culturally respectful, and accurate narration across all assigned tour formats.
Assist with and independently lead guest check-in, safety briefings, waiver collection, gear distribution, and tour logistics.
Handle guest inquiries, concerns, and special accommodations with professionalism and aloha spirit.
Conduct pre- and post-tour safety inspections using Fleetio; report any equipment issues promptly.
Enforce all safety regulations calmly and clearly, including during high-stakes experiences (Zipline, E-Bike, Horseback).
Communicate via radio with guides, leads, and the Palekana team regarding tour status and safety updates.
Navigate the reservation system: create, monitor, and modify bookings accurately.
Prepare and distribute daily tour manifests across all departments.
Actively promote and upsell tours, packages, and add-ons to maximize guest value.
Coordinate Waikiki transportation logistics: order and track bus company vehicles.
Maintain accurate records of daily transactions in accordance with company policies.
Learn and deliver Kualoa’s cultural and historical narrative, including the ranch’s significance as a wahi pana and its role in Hawaiian land stewardship.
Develop and practice a personal 3-minute site story for one filming location that connects cinematic history to cultural meaning.
Shadow experienced guides across multiple tour formats and document what makes each experience distinct.
Engage with Track 1 interns during Friday cohort sessions to understand the land that underpins every guest experience.
Contribute to the ʻIke Board each week with one concrete insight from the current department rotation.
Choose a capstone pathway in Week 1; build your project from observations across all six rotations.
Submit written milestones each week: topic (W2), methodology approved (W3), findings drafted (W5), full draft (W5 Thursday).
Present completed capstone to KRH leadership panel in Week 6.
Complete a structured peer review of a fellow intern’s draft in Week 5.
Leave a legacy contribution: a cultural script, guest journey map, narration guide, or onboarding resource.
Arrive on time, uniformed, and ready to engage guests and team members with energy and aloha spirit.
Maintain professional conduct and radio communication at all times in guest-facing environments.
Complete a written midpoint self-assessment in Week 4 and participate in a structured mentor feedback meeting.
Model Kualoa’s values of Aloha, Mālama, Poʻokela, ʻOhana, and Laulima in every interaction.