Now Hiring: Restoration Technician (Kupu ʻĀina Corps Internship)

Full-time • Full benefits • 12-month placement

The Kula Community Watershed Alliance (KCWA) is seeking a motivated and community-minded individual to join our team as a Restoration Technician through the wonderful Kupu ʻĀina Corps program.

This is a full-time, paid internship opportunity ($20/hour plus full benefits) for 12 months, with the possibility of continued employment at the end of the term. The position begins in Late April, and we are hiring now with a goal to fill the role by early October.

About the Role
The Restoration Assistant will support KCWA’s wildfire recovery and watershed restoration projects in Kula, Maui. This position involves hands-on fieldwork, including seed collection and processing, native plant propagation at our Community Restoration Nursery, outplanting, invasive species removal, and stewardship of restoration sites. The role also includes occasional weekend work for volunteer/community days.

What We Offer

• Valuable experience in ecological restoration, conservation, and community resilience

• Training and mentorship from KCWA’s restoration team and partners

• Additional training and professional development offered through Kupu Hawai’i

• The opportunity to make a lasting impact on Maui’s post-fire recovery and future wildfire resilience

• Potential to transition into a permanent role with KCWA after the internship

Qualifications

• Interest in conservation, restoration, and working outdoors

• Ability to work in varied terrain and weather conditions

• Willingness to collaborate with volunteers, community partners, and contractors

• No degree required—just a strong work ethic, adaptability, and commitment to learning

Schedule

• Full-time, Monday–Friday (occasional weekend work for community volunteer days)

• 12-month placement beginning late April 2026

How to Apply

Access the Kupu ʻĀina Corps Participant Application here, and list “Kula Community Watershed Alliance” as a preferred host site.

Time Commitment: 0.5 FTE equivalent (~1,040 hours over 12 months)

Purpose of the Role

The Contracted Wildfire Resilience Coordinator will provide dedicated coordination capacity to plan, sequence, and support wildfire mitigation and land restoration activities across high-risk private lands in Kula’s Waiakoa Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).

This role is essential for translating planning and funding into safe, effective, on-the-ground risk reduction and watersged restiration in complex, fire-prone terrain.

The contracted service provider will be responsible for the following activities:

• Coordinate with KCWA team to ensure participation of priority private landowners, including outreach, scheduling, and access permissions

• Conduct or coordinate site assessments, monitoring improvements and vegetation changes, and support parcel-level wildfire mitigation and restoration planning

• Coordinate and oversee professional contractors to ensure safety, quality, and alignment with project goals

• Align mitigation and restoration activities with county, state, federal, and nonprofit partners, including U.S. Forest Service and FEMA-funded projects

• Support community preparedness outreach, including workshops and community education tools

• Track project data and metrics to map work progress and monitor changes, including parcels engaged and acres treated

• Prepare documentation and reporting required by grant funders and project partners

Deliverables

• Coordination of mitigation planning across approximately 20–25 priority parcels

• Enablement of approximately 15 acres of fuels reduction and land restoration through aligned implementation funding

• Completed documentation, metrics tracking, data collection and processing, and interim and final reports

• Materials and records suitable for knowledge sharing and replication

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in community-based research and/or project management coordination, land management, or related fields

• Familiarity with Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) conditions and best management practices

• Ability to coordinate across multiple landowners, agencies, and contractors

• Strong organizational, communication, data collection, and documentation skills

Contract Structure

Services will be provided through a professional services agreement with a qualified organization, consistent with KCWA’s fiscal sponsorship structure.

Contract is based on 15-20 hours per week, and will specify a “do not exceed” amount consistent with grant funding in place, to be completed in the next 12 months.

Interested parties should send a resume and letter of interest to sara at kulacommunitywatershed dot org on or before March 6th, 2026.