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Careers at DAR
Care for Hawaiʻi’s Waters
Serve Our Communities
Build a Meaningful Career
The Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) is dedicated to preserving, restoring, and sustaining Hawaiʻi’s unique aquatic ecosystems for present and future generations.
Are you passionate about our waters? Looking for a job with meaningful impact? We encourage you to explore career opportunities with DAR.
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Find Your Path at DAR
DAR opportunities are posted through different systems depending on the role. Choose a path below to learn more and view current openings.
Civil service positions are State of Hawaiʻi roles offering long-term stability and structured growth, categorized into two primary tracks based on specialized training and operational needs.
Professional & Scientific Track
Research, policy, and long-term stewardship of aquatic resourcesEducation Specialists
Progressing from District Coordinator to Statewide Program Lead, they manage community outreach, volunteer programs, and school curriculum development — a blend of educational methods and aquatic resource knowledge. A Bachelor’s degree and education/training experience is required.
Program Specialists
Resource Management Program Specialists provide technical advice, manage division-wide budgets and grants, and oversee services for major initiatives. A Bachelor’s degree plus four years of specialized professional experience is required.
Aquatic Biologists
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These professionals range from entry-level trainees to statewide subject experts, leading ecosystem restoration, species monitoring, and rule-making. A Bachelor’s degree in a biological science is the core requirement. At the senior level, District Biologists serve as regional authorities, providing executive oversight for all staff, budgets, and partnerships on their assigned island.
Leadership Staff
Consisting of three Program Managers and one Administrator, this team directs statewide strategy and oversees all division operations. These leaders represent DAR in legislative hearings, manage multi-million dollar budgets, and guide long-term policy. Roles require five to six years of specialized management and supervisory experience and deeper subject-matter knowledge.
Administrative & Technical Track
Daily operations, fiscal integrity, and field supportFishery Techs
Fishery Technicians assist biologists by performing specialized work such as fisheries sampling, species identification, and vessel operation. Requirements include practical knowledge of biological concepts and field techniques, often acquired through on-the-job training.
Account Clerks
From Entry-Level Clerk to Fiscal Supervisor, they manage the division’s fiscal health, including grants, purchase orders, and payroll processing. Proficiency in bookkeeping and State fiscal procedures is the primary requirement.
Executive & Admin Assistants
Executive and Administrative Assistants coordinate departmental studies and serve as high-level legislative liaisons. This requires extensive knowledge of State government laws and organizational policies.
Current Civil Service Openings
Contract positions are managed via the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi (RCUH) and support DAR’s specialized research and field-based initiatives.
DAR partners with federal and academic organizations to host fellows who gain hands-on experience in aquatic resource management and policy — unique degree-to-work opportunities for recent graduates and professionals.
E. Gordon Grau Coastal & Marine Resource Management and Policy Fellowship
Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, this program matches recent graduate degree recipients (Master’s, JD, or PhD) with host offices like DAR for a 2-year paid fellowship focused on coastal and marine resource management.
Learn more →Susan L. Williams National Coral Reef Management Fellowship
A two-year program established by NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program to provide state and territorial agencies with qualified candidates to support coral reef management capacity.
Learn more →Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
A one-year paid fellowship in Washington, D.C., for graduate students interested in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources at the federal level.
Learn more →Peter J. Rappa Resilient and Sustainable Coasts Fellowship
Focuses on building more resilient and sustainable coastal communities through research and outreach.
Learn more →