As Hawaiʻi endeavors to formulate an unparalleled economic recovery plan as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Hawaiʻi has assembled leaders from diverse sectors to share “Innovations for the New Normal.” The four-day virtual conference will highlight efforts in vital areas such as health care, resilient food systems and digital infrastructure to help promote economic diversification and stability.
The free series will be held on November 9, 10, 12 and 13 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The conference will feature author, speaker, entrepreneur and marketing “evangelist” Guy Kawasaki, a 72 ʻIolani School graduate who went on to make a big splash in Silicon Valley as one of the Apple employees who marketed the Macintosh computer line in 1984.
He hopes to encourage aspiring innovators to pursue non-traditional fields in order to diversify the ailing economy. “Being an entrepreneur is difficult, if it were easy more people would do it,” Kawasaki said. “But that’s why the rewards are so great also. So some of it is just believing and some of it is just pursuing your dreams despite all the negativity.”
The conference includes a wide variety of key figures including; UH Economic Research Organization Executive Director Carl Bonham, Master Navigator Nainoa Thompson, International Vaccine Institute Director General Jerome Kim and MAʻO Organic Farm Manager Kaui Sana.
- November 9: Resilient Food Systems in the COVID Era
- November 10: COVID Propelled Innovations in Health Care
- November 12: Digital Innovations for the New Normal
- November 13: Next Steps to a Resilient, Healthy, Innovative Recovery
“Innovations for the New Normal” is presented by the UH Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation.
“Innovation starts here, starts at the university and especially in this day where we have lost one of the major drivers of our economy, tourism. We all need to step in and diversify our economy,” said UH Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis L. Syrmos.
