HONOLULU – To culminate the year-long commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Hawai‘i’s statehood, the 50th Anniversary of Statehood Commission will host a commemorative conference on Admission Day, August 21, 2009 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. The one-day conference, titled “New Horizons for the Next 50 Years,” will bring together Hawai‘i citizens representing different industries and interests, to reflect on the accomplishments Hawai‘i has achieved since becoming a state, while exploring the vision for Hawai‘i’s next 50 years.
“This conference will present our residents with a unique opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a state and to explore the potential for Hawai‘i’s future in the next 50 years,” said Kippen de Alba Chu, chair of the 50th Anniversary of Statehood Commission. “It will be a time to share our diverse points of views and ideas about moving Hawai‘i forward, in an environment of respect.”
Local, national and international representatives will gather to discuss topics about Hawai‘i’s past, present and future, including what Hawai‘i means to the world and the emerging role of our state in the global community in the next 50 years. Major topics and themes that will be discussed throughout the conference include: the 21st Century Economy, Education for the Next Generation, Energy for Tomorrow, Technology in Our Daily Lives, and Native Hawaiians: Cultural Navigation in a Sea of Change.
The opening plenary session will feature keynote remarks by Bryan Clay, Olympic Decathlon gold medalist; Andy Karsner, former deputy secretary, U.S. Department of Energy; and John Zogby, political pollster, Zogby International. Governor Linda Lingle will also provide welcoming remarks.
Scheduled breakout workshops include: The Future of Tourism in Hawai‘i: Structural and Strategic Changes; Military partnerships – Part of Our ‘Ohana; Knowledge Management – Leading Hawai‘i’s Future; Media in Hawai‘i – The Next 50 Years; Economic Understanding for Today and Transformation for Tomorrow; Education for our Future (STEM education, robotics, tech in the classroom); What Does Innovation Mean?; Labor Movement: Role of Unions Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow; Historic Overview: Historical Perspectives of Statehood; and Energy for Tomorrow.
In addition to the workshops, exhibit pavilions will provide conference delegates with opportunities to further their understanding of the various topic areas by interacting with industry professionals. The New Horizons pavilions will include: Energy & Green Pavilion, Innovation & Technology Pavilion, Agriculture & Industry Pavilion, Diversity & Culture Pavilion, Business & Financial Pavilion, Hospitality & Tourism Pavilion and Health, and Wellness & Aging Pavilion.
Central to the New Horizons pavilions, which feature emerging and existing industries in Hawai‘i, will be a job fair for Hawai‘i residents faced with the realities of the current economic challenges. Employment search firms, local employers, as well as representatives from HireNet Hawai‘I, an online employment resource for job seekers and employers, Career Kokua and the State of Hawai‘i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Workforce Development Division will be among the nearly 50 organizations offering information to potential employees. A complete list of participating employers and job search firms will be available on the conference website (www.hawaiistatehoodconference.com) later this month.
The cost to attend the conference is $30 per delegate and $15 for student delegates. Registration includes all conference materials, opening and closing ceremonies, all plenary sessions, one morning and afternoon workshop (to be selected at time of registration) and unlimited access to all exhibit pavilions. Food and beverage, which includes continental breakfast, lunch, closing reception and refreshments during breaks throughout the conference, will cost an additional $50. An optional post-conference reception and concert featuring The Platters, The Coasters and The Drifters is included for conference delegates. The concert can be purchased separately for $50.
Additional information about the conference, including online registration, schedule, workshop overviews, speakers, exhibition pavilions and sponsorship opportunities can be found at www.hawaiistatehoodconference.com.
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