Events

EVENT DETAILS Hawaiʻi Immigration & Inclusion Conference Wednesday, September 30, 2026 9:00 AM –3:00 PM East-West Center John A. Burns Hall (1601 East-West Road Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96848) Registration: https://www.thehiic.org/registration A room for everyone working toward belonging. The Hawaiʻi Immigration and Inclusion Conference convenes leaders, advocates, policymakers, educators, employers, and community members to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s commitment to immigrant inclusion, equity, and belonging. Through plenary conversations, workshops, and networking opportunities, participants explore policies, programs, and community-driven solutions that support immigrant families, workers, youth, and multilingual communities across the state. The conference will be held at the East-West Center (John A. Burns Hall) in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.

Speakers & Panelists Davis Price – NDN Collective, Senior Domestic Policy Strategist Kyle Kajihiro, PhD – Assistant Professor, UH Ethnic Studies Rep. Ikaika Hussey – Hawai‘i House of Representatives, District 29 Noel Shaw – Hui Aloha ‘Āina, Nā Leo o Papakōlea Firewise Event Description A report released earlier this year takes a closer look at the impacts of the U.S. military’s presence in Hawai‘i as debates continue over the future of expiring leases on Public Land Trust lands. Its findings challenge widely-cited claims regarding the military’s economic and geopolitical benefits while exposing the negative costs that are underreported, including the effects on Hawaii’s environment, public health, housing affordability, and employment. Join this month’s panel for a timely discussion of the evidence, the competing perspectives surrounding military lands and leases, and the possibilities for demilitarization and self-determination. Together, they will examine what is at stake for Hawai‘i and consider how these decisions will shape her future. Registration Information Platform: Register for Zoom Link: https://go.hawaii.edu/TUR Visual Alternative: A QR code is provided on the flyer for direct scanning.

Event Logistics Date & Time: Friday, October 2, 2026, from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Location: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2410 Campus Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, Architecture Building, Room 205 Cost: Admission is free, but registration is requested. Email [email protected] or scan QR code. Key Topics Leadership Pathways: Mentorship, education, and real-world opportunities. Civic Engagement: Amplifying women's voices in policy and government. Equity & Access: Tackling barriers in pay, childcare, healthcare, and more. Safe & Healthy Communities: Well-being, safety, and support for today and tomorrow. Hawaiʻi's Resilience: Building a more sustainable and inclusive future. Speakers & Organizers Featured Panelists: Hon. Jill Tokuda – Hawaiʻi's Second Congressional District (CD2) (Invited) Salmah Y. Rizvi – Executive Director, ACLU of Hawaiʻi Judith Mills Wong – President, League of Women Voters Hawaiʻi Llasmin Chaine – Executive Director, Hawaiʻi State Commission on the Status of Women Amelia Sofos – National President, College Democrats of America Lisa Valin – Undergraduate Chair & Instructor, Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, UH Mānoa Moderator: Charlotte Char Bland – National Women's Political Caucus Vice President Membership West Contact: Cindy Carpenter (NWPC Hawaiʻi) at 949-306-9807

RSVP: https://form.typeform.com/to/ccQgNd5v Presented by Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi and the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center Civic life can feel intimidating, inaccessible, or polarized—but meaningful change depends on an engaged community. CIVICS ON TRIAL is a free, one-day workshop inviting people of all backgrounds to explore how civic engagement can create change within government and in our communities. Through hands-on activities, conversation, creativity, and collaboration, participants will practice engaging with the systems that shape their lives, and explore ways to participate that feel authentic to them. The day features three interactive workshops: UNDERSTAND — Understanding the Honolulu City Charter: What’s on the Ballot This November? Facilitated by: Kima Wassel Hardy Every 10 years a Charter Commission is established to review the operations of City government and recommend amendments to the Charter. On November 3rd, twenty Honolulu City Charter amendments will be up for public vote. Learn how Charter amendments make their way to the ballot and how the public can shape this process. Participants will examine proposed amendments related to food security, ʻŌiwi resources, the Charter preamble, affordable housing, and ranked-choice voting. Review the proposed Honolulu City Charter amendments here: https://www.honolulucitycouncil.org/oahuvotes   CREATE — From Idea to Bill: The Power Structures of Policy Creation Facilitated by: Hawaiʻi State Representatives Amy Perruso and Tina Grandinetti, and Honolulu City Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam How does an idea become public policy—and what role can you play? This workshop explores the people, institutions, relationships, and power structures involved in creating state-wide policy. Participants will learn how they can use their own voices, ideas, and connections to participate in the policymaking process through proposing legislation, submitting testimony, and coalition building. IMAGINE — Listen to Our Leo! Empowering Voices Through Creativity Facilitated by: Hanohano and Mailelani Naehu Civic engagement is also about culture, creativity, and the stories we share. Through storytelling, music, and cultural practice rooted in moʻolelo, ʻōlelo noʻeau, and mele, participants will craft creative writing pieces that foster dialogue, strengthen community, and inspire meaningful action. CIVICS ON TRIAL is more than a day of learning—it’s an opportunity to find your voice, connect with your community, and discover impactful ways to take part in civic life. FREE lunch will be provided to attendees who bring their own reusable container, utensils, and reusable water bottle.

Director: Kim A. Snyder Duration: 88 min Year: 2025 Register - here Admission to this film is free with registration, courtesy of the Hawaiʻi Library Association, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaiʻi, Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Association of School Librarians, and University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library & Information Science Program. If you thought libraries wouldn’t make dramatic subject matter for a documentary, this film will change your mind. America’s war on books is about more than words. Librarians are being criminally investigated and arrested. In this moving—and shocking—look at the government’s attack on librarians, these individuals who are traditionally seen as mild-mannered pillars of communities across the country emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment Rights. As they well know, controlling the flow of ideas means control over communities. In Texas, the Krause List targets 850 books focused on race and LGBTQia+ stories—it hastriggered sweeping book bans across the US at an unprecedented rate. As tensions escalate, librarians connect the dots from heated school and library board meetings nationwide to lay bare the underpinnings of extremism fueling the censorship efforts. Despite facing harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalizing their work—the librarians’ rallying cry for freedom to read is a chilling cautionary tale. Post-screening discussion with Stacey Aldrich (State Librarian, Hawaiʻi State Public Library System), Danielle Fujii (School Librarian, Kalaheo High School; Former President of the Hawaiʻi Association of School Librarians), and Leilani Stacy (Immigrants' Rights Attorney, ACLU of Hawaiʻi) to follow. Moderated by Jenny Foster (State Law Librarian, and former President of both the Hawaiʻi Library Association and the American Association of Law Libraries).