Student internship and pro bono opportunities are currently available with the Surfrider Foundation Hawai‘i Chapters. Surfrider is a non-profit organization dedicated to protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Environmental Law Program (ELP) students have gained valuable experience in domestic ocean and coastal law and policy through externship and pro bono hours with the Surfrider Foundation. Students interested in working with Surfrider may contact Stuart Coleman, Hawai‘i Chapters Director, at scoleman@surfrider.org.

 

Current ELP students Mike Biechler ‘18 and Kaily Wakefield ‘17 are among the most recent students to be involved with the organization.

 

Kaily spent twelve weeks during the summer of 2016 working with Surfrider’s legal department at their headquarters in San Clemente, California, and has been active with the Hawai‘i chapters since the spring of 2015. According to Kaily, “My experience with Surfrider has been a wonderful opportunity to apply the knowledge gained from my environmental law and ocean law courses. The people I work with have incredible insights regarding local and national environmental and coastal access issues.”

 

When asked about his experience with the Hawai‘i chapters, Mike said :

 

“I really enjoyed the variety of tasks I had during my summer internship with Surfrider Foundation.  I researched plastic bag bans in Hawaii and many other cities. Then I used that information to write a bill to amend the current bag ban ordinance.  I had the opportunity to meet with the Mayor and City Council Chairman’s offices to explain our proposal, which is now being finalized and awaiting a signature before it is introduced.

 

I had the opportunity to familiarize myself with a few of the administrative processes of the Public Utilities Commission.  Other highlights were working to create an Ocean Friendly Restaurant program that promotes and advocates for restaurants that use environmentally friendly practices, and, helping to organizing a conference that brought together all six Hawaii Surfrider chapters and experts in environmental research, litigation and advocacy.

 

I continue to work with Surfrider as a volunteer at beach cleanups, as well as monitoring the progress of the bag ban ordinance amendment and the Dept. of Transportation’s ongoing projects at Laniakea Beach on Oahu’s north shore.”