Pi'iku Co. is a 501(c)(3) workforce development nonprofit. We train local technologists, place them into local companies, and build the funding pipelines that keep both sides growing.

Our legacy

46

alumni

26

partner companies

25

mentors with 10+ years of experience

4

cohorts since 2023

Our History

  • Mar 2023

    “Circular Design Internship” idea was born

    CDI

  • Apr - jul 2023

    Cohort 1 Launches

    FROM a dream and a lot of support from the community...

  • Sept - nov 2023

    Cohort 2 x Blue Startups x STEMworks

  • Apr 2024

    Our Happy 1st Birthday!

  • Jul 2024

    Nominee for HVCA Social Entrepreneur Award

  • Jul - nov 2024

    Cohort 3 Launch

  • nov 2024

    Won the Kalo Live Pitch Grant!

  • JAn 2025 - June 2025

    Cohort 4 PKC x Zippyʻs internship

  • Mar 2023

    “Circular Design Internship” idea was born

    CDI

  • Apr - jul 2023

    Cohort 1 Launches

    FROM a dream and a lot of support from the community...

  • Sept - nov 2023

    Cohort 2 x Blue Startups x STEMworks

  • Apr 2024

    Our Happy 1st Birthday!

  • Jul 2024

    Nominee for HVCA Social Entrepreneur Award

  • Jul - nov 2024

    Cohort 3 Launch

  • nov 2024

    Won the Kalo Live Pitch Grant!

  • JAn 2025 - June 2025

    Cohort 4 PKC x Zippyʻs internship

Piʻikū means  “transpiration”

The process by which water absorbed through a plant nourishes its leaves and evaporates, rising into the air and returning to the water cycle.

The process by which water absorbed through a plant nourishes its leaves and evaporates, rising into the air and returning to the water cycle.

It also means to climb or ascend.

We take our cues from Hawai'i and its 'ike to build regenerative systems. The work is meant to help our participants ascend into new opportunities and contribute back to the local technology ecosystem, like rain nourishing new growth.

And "Co." isn't short for "company." It's the start of the words we work by: collaborate, cooperate, community.

We take our cues from Hawai'i and its 'ike to build regenerative systems. The work is meant to help our participants ascend into new opportunities and contribute back to the local technology ecosystem, like rain nourishing new growth.

And "Co." isn't short for "company." It's the start of the words we work by: collaborate, cooperate, community.

How we work

We always pay our interns.

Unpaid internships gate tech careers behind wealth. In Hawai'i, where cost of living already squeezes most local families, an unpaid 12-week program isn't an opportunity, it's an exclusion.

we work across disciplines.

Most workforce programs train one role at a time. Real software gets built by designers, engineers, and PMs working on the same team, so that's how ours runs too.

We say what other orgs dont.

The talent to build local tech exists in Hawai'i. The funding and the hiring instinct that would put that talent to work hasn't fully arrived yet. We exist to move both.

The people behind the scenes

The core team

Carlo Liquido

Executive Director

Kim Davidson

Program Director

May Sermonia

Operations Director

Hana Nakano

Marketing & Communications Director

Ellie Tsuchiya

Grant Writer

Our Board members

Our Board members

Board President

Marissa Rowell

Director of Marketing @ ʻŌlelo Programming

Secretary

Tianna Johnson

People & Talent ( Formerly Talent at Render, Notion, Lyft and GitHub)

Treasurer

Sara La Torre

GTM Leader | Engineer | Advisor | Investor

Board Member

Ipo Wright

Digital Employee Experience Specialist @ Alaska Airlines

Board Member

Sage Keʻalohi quiamno

Strategic Communications & Content Leader @ Yoodli AI Roleplays

Board Member

Andrew taeoalii

Head of Engineering @ Reef.ai

Our advisors

Our advisors

Judd Antin

Consultant

Rana Kaanan

Chief Product Officer | Advisor | Founder

blain Kahoonei

Native Hawaiian Entrepreneur | Investor | Philanthropist

Allen Murabayashi

Entrepreneur

In the news

  • Article

    Zippy’s Upgrades Its Restaurant Digital Experience

    Piʻiku interns at Zippy’s have been working on creating a custom cake ordering website for Napoleon’s Bakery that will allow customers to select what kind of cake size, frosting and decorations they want.

  • video

    piiku x zippy's KITV: Island news feature

    Good Jobs Hawaii connects the islands’ top talent in various fields with local organizations. This keeps the best and brightest of Hawaiʻi in Hawaiʻi. Check out this Zippy’s x Piʻikū collab.

  • podcast

    Bytemarks Cafe: Pi’ikū Co.

    On todayʻs show we talk with Kim Davidson, Piʻikū President and Agency Lead and May Sermonia, Piʻikū Internship Program Director. Weʻll find out how Piʻikū.co is building a talent pool for the tech sector.

  • video

    Ōlelo Programming: Networking 101

    In this episode, we chat with Carlo Liquido, executive director and Hana Nakano, marketing & community directory to explore the challenges and opportunities for young professionals in tech and creative fields, workforce development initiatives, and how community-based networking can help keep jobs in Hawaii.

  • podcast

    Sera Tajima Podcast: Digital Equity

    Carlo Liquido is Founder of Lady Bandit Studios, a local product studio dedicated to shaping a more equitable future in Hawaii. Pi’iku, his internship program, provides career-building opportunities for aspiring Hawaii-connected designers.

  • awards

    HVCA: Social Entrepreneur Award Finalist

  • podcast

    Bytemarks Cafe: Pi’ikū Co.

    On todayʻs show we talk with Kim Davidson, Piʻikū President and Agency Lead and May Sermonia, Piʻikū Internship Program Director. Weʻll find out how Piʻikū.co is building a talent pool for the tech sector.

  • Article

    Zippy’s Upgrades Its Restaurant Digital Experience

    Piʻiku interns at Zippy’s have been working on creating a custom cake ordering website for Napoleon’s Bakery that will allow customers to select what kind of cake size, frosting and decorations they want.

  • video

    piiku x zippy's KITV: Island news feature

    Good Jobs Hawaii connects the islands’ top talent in various fields with local organizations. This keeps the best and brightest of Hawaiʻi in Hawaiʻi. Check out this Zippy’s x Piʻikū collab.

  • podcast

    Bytemarks Cafe: Pi’ikū Co.

    On todayʻs show we talk with Kim Davidson, Piʻikū President and Agency Lead and May Sermonia, Piʻikū Internship Program Director. Weʻll find out how Piʻikū.co is building a talent pool for the tech sector.

  • video

    Ōlelo Programming: Networking 101

    In this episode, we chat with Carlo Liquido, executive director and Hana Nakano, marketing & community directory to explore the challenges and opportunities for young professionals in tech and creative fields, workforce development initiatives, and how community-based networking can help keep jobs in Hawaii.

  • podcast

    Sera Tajima Podcast: Digital Equity

    Carlo Liquido is Founder of Lady Bandit Studios, a local product studio dedicated to shaping a more equitable future in Hawaii. Pi’iku, his internship program, provides career-building opportunities for aspiring Hawaii-connected designers.

  • awards

    HVCA: Social Entrepreneur Award Finalist

  • podcast

    Bytemarks Cafe: Pi’ikū Co.

    On todayʻs show we talk with Kim Davidson, Piʻikū President and Agency Lead and May Sermonia, Piʻikū Internship Program Director. Weʻll find out how Piʻikū.co is building a talent pool for the tech sector.

  • Article

    Zippy’s Upgrades Its Restaurant Digital Experience

    Piʻiku interns at Zippy’s have been working on creating a custom cake ordering website for Napoleon’s Bakery that will allow customers to select what kind of cake size, frosting and decorations they want.

  • video

    piiku x zippy's KITV: Island news feature

    Good Jobs Hawaii connects the islands’ top talent in various fields with local organizations. This keeps the best and brightest of Hawaiʻi in Hawaiʻi. Check out this Zippy’s x Piʻikū collab.

  • podcast

    Bytemarks Cafe: Pi’ikū Co.

    On todayʻs show we talk with Kim Davidson, Piʻikū President and Agency Lead and May Sermonia, Piʻikū Internship Program Director. Weʻll find out how Piʻikū.co is building a talent pool for the tech sector.

  • video

    Ōlelo Programming: Networking 101

    In this episode, we chat with Carlo Liquido, executive director and Hana Nakano, marketing & community directory to explore the challenges and opportunities for young professionals in tech and creative fields, workforce development initiatives, and how community-based networking can help keep jobs in Hawaii.

  • podcast

    Sera Tajima Podcast: Digital Equity

    Carlo Liquido is Founder of Lady Bandit Studios, a local product studio dedicated to shaping a more equitable future in Hawaii. Pi’iku, his internship program, provides career-building opportunities for aspiring Hawaii-connected designers.

  • awards

    HVCA: Social Entrepreneur Award Finalist

  • podcast

    Bytemarks Cafe: Pi’ikū Co.

    On todayʻs show we talk with Kim Davidson, Piʻikū President and Agency Lead and May Sermonia, Piʻikū Internship Program Director. Weʻll find out how Piʻikū.co is building a talent pool for the tech sector.

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.

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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.