Wayfinder Lecture Series Begins Thursday

Hawaii Public Radio is launching a three-part lecture series on Thursday, beginning with master Hawaiian navigator Nainoa Thompson (Executive Director of the Polynesian Voyaging Society). He'll be speaking to an intimate crowd at the Atherton Performing Arts Center at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended. Call (808) 955-8821.

The flyer reads:

"Sometimes the people who understand the old traditions best are the ones who can teach us the most about the future. Hawaii's community is built on both traditional and modern techniques. These key visionaries in Hawaii are innovative, motivational and engaging. Each has a profound understanding about where we've been. Each has the passion to deliver ideas about where we're going."

The lectures will be for the studio audience only, and will not be broadcast. The three presentations will be hosted by HPR's Beth-Ann Kozlovich and Burt Lum — friend, geek, and radio co-host.

The second speaker is James Koshiba, Executive Director of Kanu Hawaii, on Thursday, August 20. Born and raised in Hawaii, Koshiba is also co-founder of 3Point, a public interest research and consulting firm that works exclusively with non-profit schools and other socially motivated ventures.

And the third speaker is Paul Zorner, CEO of Hawaii BioEnergy, on Thursday, Sept. 17. Zorner has over two decades of international expertise in renewable fuel research and development, previously serving as founder and executive director of Mozambique-based Principle Energy Ltd.