We recruit, train, and deploy emerging tech talent to build Hawaiʻi’s tech future.

We recruit, train, and deploy emerging tech talent to build Hawaiʻi’s tech future.

Our impact

75%

alumni placed in paid work within 6 months

46

local technologists trained since 2023

100%

kama'āina, kānaka maoli, or hawaiian diaspora

$44/hr

Avg. post-program rate

Who you are

How can we work with you?

i want to support the work.

For companies, foundations, and individuals. Every dollar funds an intern stipend and expands how many local technologists we can launch.

I want to attend an event.

Speaker Series, community meetups, and cohort showcases. 600+ registrations last season.

I want to hire local talent.

For companies hiring early-career designers, engineers, and product talent. We'll connect you to alumni already trained on real local products.

I want to apply.

For local people building a tech career here. 12-week paid internships in UX, engineering, and product.

Join the movement

We are Building a strong pipeline of highly skilled, homegrown talent; providing modern technology services to local institutions; and creating a more interconnected local technology community.

We offer:

Work-based Learning Program

A 12-week paid internship pairing local technologists with local companies on real product work. Mentored by working professionals.

  • 46 alumni since 2023.

  • 75% placement rate.

  • Cohorts run once a year.

Year long hybrid speaker series

Monthly hybrid sessions with senior technologists from companies like Amazon, LinkedIn, and Block.

  • 600+ registrations and counting.

  • 4.9/5 average rating.

  • 30+ volunteer speakers to date.

Monthly community events

Public meetups built around connecting Hawai'i's tech workforce with the people building it.

  • 20+ events hosted so far.

  • Open to anyone.

our previous local partners:

We offer:

our previous local partners:

Where alumni are working

Pi'iku alumni are currently working in tech roles at companies including:

Community support

  • Mentor

    If you’re looking for an L1/L2 designer, I highly recommend checking out piiku.co. Their last cohort - 10 interns just graduated last week. I saw them showcase their projects at Honolulu Tech Week. Really high quality work and they're all great storytellers! Presenting in front of a big crowd isn’t easy, but they did it with confidence and made it super engaging.

    Chris Sybico

    C2 Mentor

  • Alumni

    While my team faced many obstacles and struggles, we felt that Piʻikū Co. supported us throughout the process, and there are many resources to tap into and a community to rely on. Not only did we gain hands-on, real-world experience, but I now have a family of like-minded designers I can reach out to.

    Gage Minamoto

    C3 Alumni

  • Community

    I can't say enough great things about Pi'iku and this particular program in collaboration with Blue Startups and all the great folks in the Honolulu tech scene. We will create more opportunities and more community exactly with this collaboration between talent, inspired organizations and business. Proud to be part of this.

    Rana Kanaan

    C2 Client

  • Mentor

    "The most impactful memory was witnessing the clients say, "This has absolutely been a game changer for us" to my interns, and it was through their hard work that they single-handedly delivered something that exceeded our client's expectations."

    Carolyn Rojsutivat

    C2 Mentor

  • ALUMNI

    "Mentorship was the #1 catalyst for my learning. Mele was my mentor, so I especially learned a lot when it came to UI/design systems."

    Nic Kim

    C2 Alumni

  • Community

    Working with interns Hannah and Kadi through Pi'iku was an absolute pleasure! Pi'iku did an excellent job matching us with talented UI/UX designers who brought fresh perspectives to our team. The interns were eager to learn and contributed meaningful work from day one. It's great to see organizations like Pi'iku building bridges between companies and emerging designers, making the design industry more accessible in Hawaii.

    Matthew Goldsborough

    C2 Client

  • Mentor

    If you’re looking for an L1/L2 designer, I highly recommend checking out piiku.co. Their last cohort - 10 interns just graduated last week. I saw them showcase their projects at Honolulu Tech Week. Really high quality work and they're all great storytellers! Presenting in front of a big crowd isn’t easy, but they did it with confidence and made it super engaging.

    Chris Sybico

    C2 Mentor

  • Alumni

    While my team faced many obstacles and struggles, we felt that Piʻikū Co. supported us throughout the process, and there are many resources to tap into and a community to rely on. Not only did we gain hands-on, real-world experience, but I now have a family of like-minded designers I can reach out to.

    Gage Minamoto

    C3 Alumni

  • Community

    I can't say enough great things about Pi'iku and this particular program in collaboration with Blue Startups and all the great folks in the Honolulu tech scene. We will create more opportunities and more community exactly with this collaboration between talent, inspired organizations and business. Proud to be part of this.

    Rana Kanaan

    C2 Client

  • Mentor

    "The most impactful memory was witnessing the clients say, "This has absolutely been a game changer for us" to my interns, and it was through their hard work that they single-handedly delivered something that exceeded our client's expectations."

    Carolyn Rojsutivat

    C2 Mentor

  • ALUMNI

    "Mentorship was the #1 catalyst for my learning. Mele was my mentor, so I especially learned a lot when it came to UI/design systems."

    Nic Kim

    C2 Alumni

  • Community

    Working with interns Hannah and Kadi through Pi'iku was an absolute pleasure! Pi'iku did an excellent job matching us with talented UI/UX designers who brought fresh perspectives to our team. The interns were eager to learn and contributed meaningful work from day one. It's great to see organizations like Pi'iku building bridges between companies and emerging designers, making the design industry more accessible in Hawaii.

    Matthew Goldsborough

    C2 Client

Build with us

Sponsor a cohort

For companies and foundations funding the program.

learn about our program

For local people ready to start their tech career.

attend one of our event

For anyone who wants to meet the community.

Subscribe for updates

Stay connected for impact updates for partners, funders, and supporters, plus news on upcoming cohorts and events.
Follow us on

Piʻikū Co. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in the State of Hawaiʻi.

Subscribe for updates

Stay connected for impact updates for partners, funders, and supporters, plus news on upcoming cohorts and events.
Follow us on

Piʻikū Co. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in the State of Hawaiʻi.

Subscribe for updates

Stay connected for impact updates for partners, funders, and supporters, plus news on upcoming cohorts and events.
Follow us on

Piʻikū Co. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in the State of Hawaiʻi.

We recruit, train, and deploy emerging tech talent to build Hawaiʻi’s tech future.

75% of our alumni land paid tech work within six months. Average post-program hourly rate: $44. 100% are Kānaka Maoli, kama'aina, or Hawaiian Diaspora.