An innovative gathering of educators from across Hawaiʻi will once again convene.

The Kamehameha Schools Kūkulu Kaiāulu Education Technology Conference returns to the Neal S. Blaisdell Center on June 2-3. Kumu and administrators can register through Friday, May 22 for the two-day professional development experience focused on how teaching, technology and culture come together in the classroom.

With sessions ranging from Hawaiian culture-based learning to coding and game design — along with huakaʻi to loko iʻa and interactive activations like an AI Slam — the conference is designed to be practical and energizing, giving educators space to test ideas and learn from one another.

KS’ instructional technology services manager Mimi Wong helps lead the conference’s learning strands and breakout sessions. She said the focus is always on helping kumu use technology with purpose.

“We hope to support kumu in thoughtfully and intentionally integrating technology into the classroom,” Wong said. “At the conference, that shows up in sessions and experiences that are tied to E Ola! and culture; that’s really important to us.”

This year’s strands — agency, advocacy, transformation, well-being and culture — are intended to connect across sessions. Many offerings blend cultural practice with emerging tools, reflecting how both coexist across today’s campuses and programs.

The result is a conference that feels different from a typical ed tech gathering. For Dean Tomita, KS’ enterprise technology senior director who has helped lead the conference since its early days, creating a meaningful experience has always been the point. Founded nearly 20 years ago, the event began as a small meeting on the Kapālama campus and has grown to almost 400 attendees, purposefully staying at a size that keeps it personal.

“The experience matters just as much as the content,” Tomita said. “We want every educator who walks in to feel seen, valued and appreciated. This is our way of saying mahalo for the work they do.”

This year’s theme, “Connect 26,” builds on that foundation, highlighting the relationships between educators, learners and resources. With the rapid rise of generative AI, building confidence and literacy is a key part of the conference.

“It’s more important than ever to keep the human in the loop,” Wong said. “Kumu play a critical role in guiding haumāna, especially as they navigate the many things that impact their learning, safety and well-being.”

Both emphasize that even as tools evolve, the work remains grounded in people.

“We’ve always wanted this to feel like coming home,” Tomita said. “You hear it as soon as the doors open — the laughter, the energy — and that’s set by the people.”

At its core, the conference is about connection and creating a space where educators feel supported, inspired and ready to bring that learning back to their haumāna. Register now: https://blogs.ksbe.edu/edtechconference/

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