CIOCOH Web Team

Emily Warren, General Manager from Ulu HI-TECH led a panel discussion, with Benson Choo, CIO Finance Factors, Dean Tomita, Senior Director Enterprise Technology, Kamehameha Schools, Peter Lewis, CIO Hawaii Pacific Health and Steven Sakata, VP Business Development eWorld, discussing the impact of AI on the IT workforce landscape. The panel discussed evolving IT career pathways, growing role of internships, mentorship, business analysis skills, and the growing impact of AI.

Noah Myers, DOE Computer Science Resource teacher for Honolulu district gave a presentation about Computer Science activities at the DOE. Noah supports 28 schools and their teachers helping them to get up to speed with integrating computer science in their classrooms. Noah shared about the importance of deeper collaboration between industry and education to better prepare teachers and students with practical skills, real-world exposure, and career readiness.

· Jeannie Lum, Associate Director of Workforce Development with Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, sharing that CIOCOH President, Greg Hester, will join the Chamber at – Hawaii on the Hill, in D.C. on June 9th to promote Kamaaina Come Home, a showcase over 75 individuals on the continent interested if opportunities to come home.

· CIOCOH support for University of Hawaii, Shidler College, engagement with ITMA.

· Kaliko Fund for scholarships, and update and planning for CIOCOH endowment

· Upcoming CIOCOH Quarterly Newsletter

· In-person General Meeting, July 16, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. at the Hawaii State Federal Credit Union Building, 333 Queen St.

The CIO Council of Hawaii held a virtual General Meeting on Thursday May 21, 2026 at Noon with 35 members in attendance. The CIOCOH board of directors and committee chairs provided updates including; finance, membership, education, Women in IT event, and Leadership Academy Cohort II.

The CIO Council of Hawaii proudly celebrated our Year 1 graduation of our inaugural cohort for our Leadership Academy on March 11th. Pictured (left to right): Greg Hester (President of CIO Council of Hawaii), graduate Katherine Jumalon (State of Hawaii DHS), graduate Jennifer Edwards (Bowers + Kubota Consulting), Kaelyn Hirokawa (eWorld Enterprise Solutions), Hali’a Hester (Ulu Lahui Foundation), volunteer instructor Colbert Seto (retired CIO) and volunteer instructor Dean Tomita (Kamehameha Schools).

Our Leadership Academy comprises a two year curriculum that specializes in IT leadership. To join our next cohort starting on April 7th, visit https://ciocouncilofhawaii.org/leadershipacademy/ for more information.

With sponsorship support from Technocrats Domain Inc, the evening at Upstairs At Pier 38 brought together a mix of long-standing members and new prospects. The conversations reflected exactly what Pilina is all about: candid peer exchange, practical insight, and relationship-driven collaboration.

As 2025 closes and the Pilina Dinner program approaches its second anniversary, momentum is clearly building. New faces, stronger engagement, and increasing interest in the CIO Council of Hawaii’s mission make us optimistic for an even more impactful 2026. Looking forward to expanding the community, deepening partnerships, and continuing to elevate Hawaii’s senior IT leadership in the year ahead!

The CIO Council of Hawaii was proud to sponsor the 2025 Tech Career Pathways Summit, a dynamic gathering that brought together students, educators, and industry leaders to explore the many opportunities within Hawaii’s growing technology and innovation sectors. The event featured insightful panels, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities that connected aspiring professionals with experienced mentors and organizations shaping the future of Hawaii’s digital economy.

We extend a heartfelt mahalo to all of the event collaborators, speakers, and participants who made this summit a success, including our partners from education, business, and government who share our mission of fostering local talent and strengthening Hawaii’s technology ecosystem. Events like this demonstrate the power of collaboration in building sustainable tech career pathways for our community.

#CIOCOH
#CIOCouncilOfHawaii

Grateful to everyone who joined the September Pilina Dinner at Hy’s Steak House in Waikiki…..12 IT leaders trading stories of real-world wins, lessons learned, and a few good laughs. The format was familiar, but the energy was new: candid stories about resilience, practical planning, and commitments to show up for each other and support our local community of IT leaders.

A very special mahalo to our sponsors, Pellera Technologies and Arctic Wolf, for fueling the conversation. Cheers to more face time, fewer buzzwords, and stronger ties across Hawaii’s tech and cybersecurity circles!

Members, watch your Inbox for registration information for future Pilina Dinners.

#PilinaDinner
#CIOCouncilOfHawaii
#CIOCOH

The CIO Council of Hawaii was proud to co-host an inspiring Women in Information Technology Leadership Roundtable & Mixer with our partners at TEKsystems. The event brought together incredible leaders and rising professionals from across Hawaii’s tech community to share experiences, mentorship, and practical insights on advancing women in IT. The conversations were authentic, the networking was vibrant, and the energy in the room reflected a shared commitment to building a more inclusive and supportive technology community.

Mahalo to all who joined us! Your engagement continues to shape the future of IT leadership in Hawaii!

The CIO Council of Hawaii recently announced at our 2025 Annual Meeting the launch of the new Ka Liko Fund to help students preparing for a career in technology perform activities that go beyond obtaining a good education and doing well in school.  These can include obtaining work-based learning experiences, networking with professionals in the field, involvement in technology related organizations and conferences, personal passion projects in the field, and other extracurricular activities.  These “going beyond” activities and initiatives, while very important to the professional development of the student, often take money and resources to accomplish.  Hence the launch of the Ka Liko Fund.

Ka Liko, which means “to bud or put forth leaves”, is short for the mission phrase in Hawaiian, E ho’oulu I ka liko, which means to grow (or increase) the blossom.  Ho’oulu can also be translated to inspire.  In this case, it would also mean to “inspire the young buds” and, when we refer to flowers, especially the buds, we are talking about the youth or children.

Some examples of “going beyond” activities include:

• Attending a technology conference on the U.S. Continent
• Travel to a different geographic location to pursue an internship opportunity
• Fees for industry-recognized certifications and/or specialized training
• Purchasing of non-class books to learn more about an area of passion/interest
• Pursuing a technology passion project which could include the purchase of hardware and/or software
• Participating in boot camps, workshops, and/or specialized training

The CIO Council of Hawaii will base awards on proposals submitted by students, with awards expected to range from $2,000 to $5,000.  The Ka Liko Fund Committee will review proposals, recommend recipients, and award amounts to the CIO Council of Hawaii Board of Directors.  Two award periods per year are anticipated, Spring and Fall.  Donations to the Ka Liko Fund are 100% tax deductible as the CIO Council of Hawaii is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization.

Ka Liko Fund donation link: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/cio-council-of-hawaii/2025-ka-liko-fund-giving