“Stronger Together: Connecting in Times of Change”
Talent Summit 2026 brings together employers, HR professionals, business leaders, and workforce partners from across Hawai‘i for a full day of insight, connection, and practical workforce strategies designed for today’s evolving workplace.
Through main stage conversations, interactive breakout discussions, networking experiences, and community-building opportunities, attendees will explore how Hawai‘i organizations can navigate workforce challenges, strengthen leadership, and collectively shape the future of work in Hawai‘i.
Convene talent stakeholders: HR practitioners, Business Leaders, and Workforce Development professionals around the state of Talent in Hawaii today and in the future
Connect with existing talent solutions to share knowledge, network and facilitate information sharing
Share best practices in talent attraction, development and retention along with practical tips for implementation
Challenge the current mindset about Hawaii's talent market while fostering innovation and collaboration
Why attend?
- Networking: Build meaningful connections, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations with HR professionals, business leaders, and community leaders
- Learning opportunities: Gain valuable insights, skills, and knowledge from HR experts and thought leaders
- Connect with solutions: Meet solutions providers who can help address today's talent challenges with programs to help attract, retain and engage today's workforce
Keynote Speaker
Kim Scott is the author of Radical Respect and Radical Candor. Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics, Twitter, and other tech companies. She was a member of the faculty at Apple University and before that led AdSense, YouTube, and DoubleClick teams at Google.
Speakers
Naomi Ahuna, SHRM-SCP
Vice President – Chief Human Resources Officer
Island Energy Services
Donavan Kealoha
Managing Director
Startup Capital Ventures x SBI Fund
Co-Founder/Co-CEO
Purple Mai'a
Michelle Bartell
President & CEO
Aloha United Way
Sara La Torre
Systems Engineer, Entrepreneur, and Sales Leader
La Torre Consulting
Manu Bermudes
Vice President of Human Resources
Hawaii Gas
Rachel Akaka Mamiya
Chief Operating Officer
J. Uno & Associates, Inc.
JJ Bernardo
People Operations & Talent Specialist
Accuity
Mike Nitta
Labor Relations Manager
Hawaii Employers Council
Judy Bishop
Owner, President, and CEO
Bishop & Company
Lei Pedro
Publisher and Market President
Pacific Business News
Paul Chen, MBA, MS, MPH
Vice President & Talent Acquisition Manager
First Hawaiian Bank
Trisha Ramelb
Associate Director, Vanguard
Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders (CTL)
Lindsey Chun-Hori
Senior Marketing & Communications Manager
ALTRES
Stevette Santiago
Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources and Brand Officer
UHA Health Insurance
LJ Duenas
Executive Director
Alzheimer’s Association – Hawaii Chapter
Kim Scott
Author
Radical Respect and Radical Candor
Tracie Foglia
Talent Solutions Manager
Hawaii Employers Council
Matt Stevens
Executive Director
Hawai'i Workforce Funders Collaborative
Yvette Gibson
Human Resources Manager
Oceanit
Michelle Kim Stone
COO & General Counsel
Hawaii Employers Council
Sarah Guay
President & CEO
Hawaii Employers Council
Dina Tsuda
Chief Growth Officer
Title Guaranty Hawaii
Alyson Hanson
Human Resources Director
Parents And Children Together
Katherine von Jan (KVJ)
Co-founder and CEO
Tough Day, Employee Success AI
Reid Hinaga
SVP & Retail Delivery Division Manager
Hawaii State Federal Credit Union
Joshua Wisch
President and Executive Director
Holomua Collective
Brandon Kamigaki
Director of Automotive Retail Strategic Initiatives and Operations
Servco Pacific Inc.
Henry Wu
Human Resources Director
Seagull Schools
Agenda-at-a-Glance
Time
Session
7:45 - 8:30 AM
Registration, Networking & Coffee
8:30 - 8:45 AM
Opening & Welcome: Stronger Together in Times of Change
8:45 - 9:15 AM
The Reality We Can’t Ignore Workforce trends, affordability, cost of living, and the challenges shaping Hawai‘i’s workforce future featuring Josh Wisch
9:15 - 9:45 AM
From Challenge to Possibility A conversation focused on commitment, innovation, and collective action featuring Trisha Ramelb
9:45 - 10:45 AM
Main Stage Conversation: Human-Centered AI How AI creates space for what matters most…human connection, leadership, trust, communication, and judgment, featuring Michelle Kim Stone, Sara La Torre, Katherine von Jan (KVJ).
10:45 - 11:00 AM
Networking & Connection Break
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Featured Breakout Conversations
Join HEC’s Labor Relations team for a practical conversation on the workforce and employee relations issues employers are facing today: from staffing pressures and operational change to communication gaps and organizational risk
Through a candid fireside-style conversation, Hawaii leaders will explore the realities behind today’s growing workload demands, the challenges of managing limited human capital resources.
This interactive session brings together Hawaii HR leaders from different generations for an honest, engaging conversation about the realities of today’s multigenerational workplace.
Mike Nitta
Hawaii Employers Council
Manu Bermudes
Hawaii Gas
Stevette Santiago
UHA Health Insurance
JJ Bernardo
Accuity
Alyson Hanson
Parents And Children Together
Henry Wu
Seagull Schools
Judy Bishop
Bishop & Co.
Lei Pedro (Moderator)
Pacific Business News
12:15 - 1:30 PM
Lunch & Table Top Talk Peer connection, sparked discussion, and interactive networking
1:45 - 2:45 PM
Featured Breakout Conversations
In this honest and human-centered conversation, panelists will share personal leadership experiences, lessons learned, and practical approaches to supporting teams through high-pressure environments
This session will explore why internships matter, along with practical approaches to finding talent, structuring meaningful experiences, and building programs that strengthen Hawai’i’s future workforce pipelines and retention.
This session brings together Hawai‘i leaders navigating the real-world complexities of schedule flexibility to share honest insights, lessons learned, and practical leadership strategies.
Brandon Kamigaki
Servco Pacific Inc.
Michelle Bartell
Aloha United Way
LJ Duenas
Alzheimer’s Association – Hawaii Chapter
Paul Chen (Moderator)
First Hawaiian Bank
Reid Hinaga
Hawaii State Federal Credit Union
Yvette Gibson
Oceanit
Donavan Kealoha
Startup Capital Ventures x SBI Fund / Purple Mai'a Foundation
Matt Stevens (Moderator)
Hawai'i Workforce Funders Collaborative
Naomi Ahuna
Island Energy Services
Lindsey Chun-Hori
ALTRES
Rachel Akaka Mamiya
J Uno & Associates
Dina Tsuda (Moderator)
Title Guaranty Hawaii
2:45 - 3:00 PM
Afternoon Refreshment Break
3:00 - 4:15 PM
Keynote & Q&A: Kim Scott Internationally bestselling author of Radical Candor
4:15 - 4:30 PM
Moving Forward Together
4:30 - 5:30 PM
Pau Hana Networking Celebration
Featured Breakout Conversations Include:
- Human-centered leadership in times of change
- Right-sizing work with smarter structures and clearer roles
- Schedule flexibility without losing accountability
- Generational dynamics in today’s workplace
- Internships as workforce strategy
- Labor relations in uncertain times
- Recognizing burnout and leaning into sustainability
Featured Speakers also include:
- Manu Bermudes
- Stevette Santiago
- Additional Hawai‘i business, HR, workforce, and community leaders to be announced
Shape
Additional featured speakers and experiences will be announced as Talent Summit 2026 approaches.
Mahalo to our Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Register Today
Date: June 26, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Location:
Ala Moana Hotel Conference Room
410 Atkinson Drive
Honolulu, HI 96814
Member: $200 per person ($175 early bird until May 29, 2026)
Non-Member: $250 per person
HRCI™ Credits & SHRM® Credits: 8
How to Register:
Members: Please sign in to your account and select Register.
Non-Members: To register, please create a free guest account or sign in if you have joined us before.
Parking
Banquet Validation is $12 up to 8 hours or $14 up to 10 hours.
Valet parking is $35.00 with banquet validation
Parking is available at Ala Moana Shopping Center