TEDxHonolulu Returns with 'Paradigm Shift'
The first TEDxHonolulu in 2009 was themed "Shift." So perhaps it's fitting that the event returns this year with "Paradigm Shift."
Of course, the look and feel of TED Talks (and their proclamations and exhortations for deep thinking) are so ubiquitous, they've completed the full hype cycle from being extensively parodied to having those parodies declared over. Trendy or not, the idea has staying power.
Founded over 30 years ago to celebrate "Technology, Entertainment and Design," TED has evolved from exclusive conferences to a global network of events celebrating "ideas worth spreading." In addition to TEDxHonolulu, Hawaii has seen TEDxMaui, TEDxHilo and TEDxKamuela on the Big Island, and events centered around specific themes, including youth and education.
In Honolulu, the call went out in December for "boundary-breaking thinkers and leaders" to present at TEDxHonolulu 2015. Eleven speakers were ultimately chosen for the program, which will run all day on Saturday, March 28 at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Campus Center. They are:
Andrea Anderson: Pragmatic, open, respectful and honest sexuality.
Hayden Atkins: The Bicycle Power Revolution.
Steven Chiang: Turning the “ag-curious” into “ag-producers.”
Cheyne Gallarde: The Power of Nostalgia.
Brandon Hayashi: The transformative power of electric light.
Vicki Johnson and Jennifer Dotson: Opening the job market for diverse abilities and skills.
Dawn Lippert: Can Hawaii help solve the world’s biggest energy problems?
Ian Monroe: Scaling daily actions into societal changes with technology.
Shane Robinson: Being present, in the moment, to unlock unlimited creativity and transformation.
Patrick Sullivan: Intellectual anarchy, disruptive innovation, and advancing science and engineering.
Voices From The Inside: Changing lives with courageous storytelling.
Gabriel Yanagihara: Harnessing the love of video games to empower student learning.
The program is led by Genesis Leong, who has held the license to the TEDxHonolulu name since 2013, but there is always a team of partners and volunteers who help make everything happen. In the build up to this month's event, TEDxHonolulu has been featuring its volunteers (and their favorite TED talks) on its Facebook page.
"Many people on Oahu don’t realize we have our own version of the famous TEDx talks that are a mainstay of YouTube and social media," explains communications team member Patrick Williams. "There’s a great line up of speakers who are looking to change the world with technology, education, workforce development, and more."
"I think we have some kick butt food at the event too," he adds.
Tickets are available online now for $75, or $65 for students, seniors, and school faculty and staff (with valid ID).
For more information, visit TEDxHonolulu.org, or connect with TEDxHonolulu on Facebook or on Twitter.
Red 'X' photo courtesy Burt Lum on Flickr. Speaker photos courtesy TEDxHonolulu.
