🌱 Piʻikū means “transpiration”–
the process by which water that has been absorbed through a plant, nourishes its leaves, and evaporates, rising into the air and returning into the water cycle.
It also means to climb or ascend.
We take our cues from our home, Hawaiʻi, and its ʻike to build regenerative systems that not only help our participants ascend to new heights and go off to new opportunities, but also contribute back to the local technology ecosystem, like rain nourishing new growth.
And Co. isn’t short for “company.” It’s the beginning of all our favorite words - collaborate, cooperate, community, and more. It’s an invitation to create with us.
To build something new, exciting, and bigger than all of us.
Piʻikū Co. is a 501(c)(3) community-based workforce development nonprofit dedicated to helping local talent break into tech. We run an 8-12-week annual internship program that connects aspiring technologists with local businesses or startups, providing hands-on experience in product management, product design, and software development for digital innovation. Our goal is to make higher-paying careers in tech more accessible while strengthening Hawaiʻi’s economy with homegrown talent.
Hawaiʻi’s economy has long been dominated by tourism and hospitality, but we believe in creating more opportunities in tech—right here at home. Many career changers, creatives, and problem solvers don’t know where to start when it comes to breaking into the industry. That’s where we come in. In our first year we’ve had:
(2x Hawaiʻi’s minimum wage)
Host an internship and help shape the next generation of local tech talent.
Your support helps fund internships and initiatives that create career opportunities in Hawai'i.
Apply for our internship to gain paid, real-world experience in tech. Follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram for updates on our next cohort!