This unique Hawaiʻi internship program celebrates the next generation of innovators

HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi (August 12, 2026) — After a summer of collaborating with Oceanit’s multidisciplinary teams and dedicated mentors, the company’s 2026 interns will take center stage at the annual Intern Innovation Summit. The event celebrates the culmination of Oceanit’s summer internship program, where students unveil capstone innovation projects inspired by the challenges they believe will shape the future.

The ideas span a remarkable range of disciplines—from advanced materials and autonomous systems to environmental sustainability, and emerging technologies. Rather than assigning projects, Oceanit challenges each intern with a simple but ambitious question: What problem do you want to solve? The result is a showcase of original thinking that reflects the passion and creativity of Hawaiʻi’s next generation of innovators.

During the summit, each intern takes on Oceanit’s signature 5-5-5 Challenge in a “Shark Tank” style format: five slides, five minutes to pitch, and five minutes of questions from a panel of judges. The fast-paced challenge tests technical expertise, creativity, communication, and entrepreneurial thinking, with projects evaluated on innovation, feasibility, and potential impact.

For more than 40 years, Oceanit has invested in developing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators through its immersive and highly competitive internship program. This year alone, the company received more than 1,000 applications from students eager to participate. Since its founding, Oceanit has mentored more than 700 interns, many of whom have gone on to build successful careers at Oceanit and throughout Hawaiʻi’s innovation community.

“When I look at our interns, I don’t just see students, I see the future of Hawaiʻi,” said Dr. Patrick K. Sullivan, Founder and CEO of Oceanit. “Every summer they remind us that our state is filled with extraordinary talent. Our responsibility is to create an environment where they feel encouraged to ask questions, think differently, and turn their ideas into reality. When you combine education with imagination, there’s no limit to what these young innovators can accomplish.”

More than an internship, the program is designed to give students the freedom to explore the challenges they care about most. Working alongside experienced mentors, interns gain hands-on research and development experience while transforming ideas into practical solutions. Rather than telling students what to invent, Oceanit creates the opportunity space where curiosity is encouraged, imagination is valued, and innovation takes shape.

As Hawaiʻi continues to build its innovation economy, programs like Oceanit’s internship are helping inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. By empowering students to think boldly and solve meaningful problems, the program demonstrates that some of tomorrow’s biggest ideas can begin right here in Hawaiʻi.

2026 Oceanit Interns

• Jacob Bergeron is pursuing a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa after earning a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from Texas A&M University.
• Jasmine Chang is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Irvine.
• Kristen Chang is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
• Benny Chung is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nano Engineering at the University of California, San Diego.
• Shelby Dixon is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
• Ian Kuo is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine.
• Anna Perez is pursuing a degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations at Duke University.
• Jason Yee is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

About Oceanit

Oceanit is a “Mind to Market” company founded in 1985 that focuses on moving fundamental scientific breakthroughs from the lab to the market. Oceanit employs a unique methodology called Intellectual Anarchy, which promotes intradisciplinary collaboration to create disruptive innovations, delivering cutting-edge solutions at scale across multiple industries, including energy, aerospace, healthcare and more. Learn more at www.oceanit.com.

The 2026 cohort of the Future Innovators Program internship at Oceanit. From L to R: Kristen Chang, Jacob Bergeron, Shelby Dixon, Jason Yee, Jasmine Chang, Ian Kuo, Anna Perez, and Benny Chung.