VIBRANT HAWAIʻI
RESILIENCE CONFERENCE
Friday, June 12 – Saturday, June 13 | University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
The Vibrant Hawaiʻi Resilience Conference is a two-day, in-person training designed to strengthen local capacity for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
WHAT TO EXPECT
CONFERENCE AGENDA
Each track will have a designated escort to help facilitate
moving into breakout sessions.
Parking is free. Recommended to park closest to UH Performing Arts Center
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
8:00 AM
CHECK IN
Check in at UH Performing Arts Center Theatre, doors will open at 8:30AM.
Coffee and pastries available outside. No food allowed inside the theater.
9:00 AM
OPENING PLENARY
UH Performing Arts Center Theatre, 342 W Kawili St, Hilo, HI 96720 (Google Maps)
Opening with shared purpose and setting the tone.
10:00 AM
BREAKOUT #1
Participants will break and be escorted to track breakouts.
12:00 PM
LUNCH
Lunch served at Campus Center Plaza
Available seating inside plaza area and across campus
1:00 PM
BREAKOUT #2
Participants will break and be escorted to track breakouts.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
END OF DAY KEYNOTE
UH Performing Arts Center Theatre, 342 W Kawili St, Hilo, HI 96720 (Google Maps)
Closing with Keynote Speaker, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation Program Director, Kehau Meyer.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
9:00 AM
OPENING PLENARY
UH Performing Arts Center Theatre, 342 W Kawili St, Hilo, HI 96720 (Google Maps)
Opening with shared purpose and setting the tone.
10:00 AM
BREAKOUT #1
Participants will break and be escorted to track breakouts.
Water and snacks available inside each room.
12:00 PM
LUNCH
Lunch served at Campus Center Plaza
Available seating inside plaza area and across campus
1:00 PM
BREAKOUT #2
Participants will break and be escorted to track breakouts.
Water and snacks available inside each room.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CURATED CONNECTIONS
Join us at Campus Center Plaza for networking and collective community engagement.
Light Pupus and Drinks
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
BUILDING READINESS, TOGETHER
The conference brings together community leaders, volunteers, health professionals, nonprofit staff, faith-based organizations, and business partners to build shared skills, coordination, and readiness before the next emergency.
Conference Structure
Each day opens with a plenary session to establish shared context and align participants across disciplines, highlighting key lessons from recent disaster responses. Each day closes with a keynote address featuring experienced practitioners reflecting on leadership, coordination, and community resilience in action.
Practice-Focused
Sessions emphasize coordination across roles, clear communication, and locally adaptable approaches that support communities in the critical hours, days, and months following a disaster. Between plenaries and keynotes, participants attend breakout sessions organized by track — six sessions over two days — building skills progressively.
WHAT TO EXPECT
TRAINING TRACKS
Learn from subject matter experts and expand your knowledge as we build a collective network across Hawai'i.
TRACK 01
Medical Response
Community first aid, triage, patient support, and coordination with medical systems.
TRACK 02
Mental Health & Psychosocial Support
Psychological first aid, stress response, and community-based emotional support.
TRACK 03
Volunteer & Donations Management
Volunteer coordination, spontaneous volunteer management, and donations flow.
TRACK 04
Shelter Support
Shelter operations, accessibility, client support, and coordination with relief partners.
TRACK 05
Long-Term Recovery Support
Case management concepts, resource navigation, and sustained community recovery.
TRACK 06
Food Security
Community food systems, distribution logistics, and food access during emergencies.
CERTIFICATION
EARN YOUR CREDENTIAL
Requirements
Attend all six sessions within your selected track
Successfully pass the post-conference exam
What's Included
Registration includes access to all plenaries, keynotes, breakout sessions within one track, conference materials, and the certification exam. Participants who meet all requirements will receive a certificate of completion recognizing their training and readiness in that functional area.
CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP
We invite you to join us as a sponsoring partner and contribute in a way that reflects your highest capacity to give. Contributions of any amount directly support participation, training delivery, and statewide coordination. Our sponsorship form is available online at: bit.ly/vh-conference.
All sponsors will be acknowledged equally as Kūkaukaʻi Sponsors across print and non-print event materials, reflecting our belief that each of us holds a vital piece of a larger whole.
Vibrant Hawaiʻi is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
