By Elenore Chase

Oʻahu college students have a shot at a paid, eight-week summer internship inside military commands — but the clock is ticking. The VICEROY MAVEN program, powered by the Pacific Intelligence & Innovation Initiative (P3I), runs mid‑June through early August 2026, pays roughly $6,000, and gives interns experience with security‑clearance procedures. Participants work in teams on mission-driven problems and deliver a final briefing to senior military and civilian leaders. Applicants must be enrolled in a college or university and able to obtain a security clearance to participate.

According to Hawaii P3I, applications are due by 11:59 p.m. HST on Nov. 15, and the internship dates are June 15–Aug. 8, 2026. The program page notes participants will “earn about $6,000” and that selected candidates receive a conditional offer before beginning the security‑clearance process. P3I also requires interns to have transportation to access work sites on Oʻahu military bases and to be available in person for the full program period.

On‑base access and hands‑on projects

Intern teams are embedded with commands and defense contractors to solve mission‑critical problems under a Command Mentor and a P3I advisor. Cohort activities include site visits to Oʻahu military facilities and a formal out‑brief to senior leaders, offering exposure to operational technology, cybersecurity, and data analysis. A Department of Defense media report documenting a June site visit shows P3I‑affiliated students touring the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency at Joint Base Pearl Harbor‑Hickam, underscoring the program’s hands‑on orientation. DVIDS provides one example of those on‑base experiences.

Who can apply and what to submit

P3I says applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate university program, be able to obtain a security clearance, and have reliable transportation to an Oʻahu base. The application requires a resume, transcript, and a one‑page personal statement; P3I’s FAQ notes the online form takes 25–35 minutes to complete and that applicants will be contacted in November or December. Selected candidates receive a conditional offer in January 2026, and the security‑clearance process is then initiated, according to Hawaii P3I.

Partners and program scale

The initiative partners with major defense commands and industry — KHON2 lists USINDOPACOM, U.S. Army Pacific, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, and the National Security Agency among its partners. KHON2 also reports that P3I has placed more than 300 students since launching in 2023. Jason Chung of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii told KHON2 that the VICEROY MAVEN “is expanding opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s talent to develop technical and leadership skills,” and said those pipelines help both state readiness and local economic growth.

Why this matters for Hawaiʻi students

Local workforce leaders say the program is part of a broader push to build career pathways that keep young talent in the islands rather than pushing graduates to the mainland. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii has noted that efforts like P3I connect classroom skills to paid roles in high‑demand fields — cybersecurity, data science, and electronic warfare — and help address long‑term out‑migration tied to cost of living and limited job opportunities. Chamber of Commerce Hawaii has published reporting that lays out that workforce context.

Students who meet the eligibility rules should assemble a resume, transcript, and one‑page personal statement before the Nov. 15 deadline; applicants will be contacted in November or December and conditional offers are expected in January. Those accepted will begin the security‑clearance process and can expect to work in person on Oʻahu for the full internship period the following summer.

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