Mahalo for joining us for the 2023 Hawaiʻi Broadband Hōʻike! We were honored to have such a great lineup of presentations and esteemed speakers. On behalf of the County of Kaua’i, the Hawaiʻi Broadband and Digital Equity Office, and the Kaua’i Economic Development Board, we extend our heartfelt appreciation and aloha for your participation. We hope you enjoyed this hōʻike event! A hui hou and mālama pono!

Please Fill Out Our Survey!

POST-Conference Survey

Stacey Aldrich has more than 30 years of library experience and is the State Librarian of Hawaii. Prior to Hawaii, she served as the Deputy Secretary for the Office of Commonwealth Libraries in Pennsylvania and State Librarian of California. Throughout her career she has worked on state and national projects related to broadband connectivity and digital literacy skill building in libraries, and was awarded the LINK AMERICAS Foundation Knowledge Award for vision and leadership in the area of digital literacy.

Stacey Aldrich

State Librarian

Office of the State Librarian

Stacey Aldrich (Libraries) - Headshot_edited.jpg

Screen Shot 2023-09-26 at 5.07.41 PM.png

Kalani Andrade

Senior Manager

Network Planning &

Sub-Sea Cable Systems

Hawaiian Telcom

Kalani Andrade is the Senior Manager of Hawaiian Telcom’s Network Planning and Sub-Sea Cable Systems team and has over 23 years of experience in the communications field in various industries, including large fiber optic cable deployments, Encrypted Satellite Communications, Microwave, and Telecommunication technologies.

Prior to joining HT, Kalani held multiple roles with Sandwich Isles Communications, Inc. for 20 years, all of which have been critical to the success of building one of the most technologically advanced inter-island fiber networks in Hawaii. He was directly involved with one of the first Fiber-to-the-Premise applications in the state. While with the Titan Corporation, Kalani successfully led a $250 million Mini-Dama project for the timely assembly, fabrication, testing, and delivery of 300 SATCOM Modems for SPARWAR contract.

Kalani received his Business Management Degree from the University of Phoenix. He studied Liberal Arts at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Electronics and Digital Circuitry from San Diego City College. Kalani has earned various certifications in CISCO, Metaswitch, Fujitsu, Lucent 5ESS, and Calix.

Brad Kaleo Bennett

Executive Director

ʻAuamo Collaborative

Brad Kaleo Bennett, M.Ed., is the Executive Director of `Auamo Collaborative, a nonprofit focusing on supporting underserved communities through educational advocacy and programming, broadband mapping and analysis, and building community managed broadband networks in rural areas across Hawaiʻi. He is a charter member of the State of Hawaii Broadband Hui, the Hawaii Island Digital Equity Coalition, the Oahu Digital Equity Coalition, co-author of the Hawaii Digital Equity Declaration, and leads the Digital Sovereignty/Community Broadband Hui, working with underserved and unserved rural communities across the state to build and manage internet connectivity through community owned networks. He is also the Principal Consultant for `Auamo Consulting, specializing in educational strategy, leadership development and policy, and systems change through indigenous modeling and place-based practices He previously served as the Complex Area Superintendent for the Department of Education Hilo-Waiakea Complex Area, and has more than 20 years of experience in educational leadership, 10 in school and state administration.

Chung Chang

Strategic Broadband

Coordinator

HBDEO & DBEDT

Chung, as the head of the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office (HBDEO) within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), has prioritized advancing the state’s digital infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to digital resources. His experience as a private consultant and small business owner provides him with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that businesses face in Hawaii. This experience and his previous role as the deputy director of DBEDT and managing health insurance sales and IT projects equips him with the necessary leadership skills to develop policies and initiatives that support the growth of the digital economy in the state to ensure that all residents of Hawaii have equal access to essential services like health, education, and economic opportunities. By leveraging these opportunities, he believes that the State can bridge the digital divide and promote overall economic and social development.

Micah Chao is the Broadband Data Specialist on the University of Hawaiʻi Broadband Team. Micah received his Master’s in Computer Science from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and has over five years of experience working in data analytics and visualization. Micah will provide an overview of Community Anchor Institutions (CAI) and ways for the community to participate in the effort to identify eligible CAIs in Hawaiʻi.

Micah Chao

Data Specialist

University of Hawaii

Susan Hirai

Broadband Grant

Program Coordinator

University of Hawaii

Susan Hirai is the Broadband Grant Program Coordinator on the University of Hawaiʻi Broadband Team. Susan received her Masters in Public Administration from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and Bachelors of Arts in Broadcast communications and Electronic Media from Gonzaga University. Prior to joining the UH broadband team, Susan worked for the State for over ten years and today will review UH’s plan for public outreach and key dates related to the BEAD effort.

Dr. Gwen Jacobs

Director of Cyberinfrastructure

University of Hawaii

Gwen Jacobs, PhD is part of the University of Hawaiʻi Broadband Team. Dr. Jacobs received her undergraduate training in Human Anatomy and Physiology from UC Berkeley, a Master's Degree in Physiology from UC Davis, and her PhD in Neuroscience from SUNY Albany. She was on the faculty at UC Berkeley for 15 years and on the faculty of Montana State University for 16 years, where she was a Professor of Neuroscience, Department Head, Assistant Chief Information Officer and Director of Research Computing. In addition to her faculty roles, she directed the Howard Hughes Undergraduate Biology Program (2002 – 2014) and the Lariat Networking Project. She is currently the University of Hawai‘i’s Director of Cyberinfrastructure, responsible for directing and implementing research infrastructure support for the university. Gwen will provide an overview of the BEAD Initial Proposal and Challenge Process.

Shola Kahiapo-Trevino

Digital Equity Specialist

County of Hawaii

Shola was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. She is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Hawaiʻi, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Shola embarked on her broadband journey as a fellow with the American Connection Corps. During her fellowship, she successfully established the Hawaiʻi Island Digital Equity Coalition, organized two broadband-focused community meetings that brought together all government stakeholders involved in broadband efforts, and applied for the County of Hawaiʻi to be recognized as Digital Trailblazers by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. Shola has continued her work with the County of Hawaiʻi, where she is currently developing the County Broadband Action Plan and conducting ongoing community outreach. Her goal is to ensure her community is well-prepared to access upcoming broadband resources by providing them with accessible resources and easy to digest information.

Screen Shot 2023-09-30 at 3.46.33 PM.png

Ron & Doreen Kodani

Retired Business Owners &

Vice President & Treasurer

Pilihonua Hawaiian Homestead Community Association

Ron & Doreen are both retired business owners and current officers of the Pilihonua Hawaiian Homestead Community Association. With Ron as the Vice President and Doreen as the Treasurer. In 2007 they saw the need for childcare in their community and were inspired to start a home childcare service program. Which led them to opening their business called Hilo Keiki Cares, LLC under the department of human services. Ron & Doreen owned and operated their business for nearly 12 years. Prior to opening their business, Ron had gained years of experience as a sales manager, public relations consultant, and certified nurses aide. Doreen had gained years of experience doing clerical/receptionist work, paraprofessional tutoring, and obtaining her nurses aide certificate and her applied science degree.

Chris Lim
Director, State &

Local Government Portals
Adobe

With over 25 years in the enterprise software industry, Chris Lim has served a plethora of commercial and public sector clients both locally and globally. His proven expertise in combining technologies, business requirements, and strategic analysis to deliver enterprise-solutions has helped maximize stakeholders' value.

Burt Lum

State Digital Equity Coordinator

Hawaii Broadband &

Digital Equity Office

Burt Lum is the State of Hawaii’s State Digital Equity Coordinator in the Hawaii Broadband & Digital Equity Office dedicated to digital equity and ensuring that Hawaii establishes robust, resilient, ubiquitous and affordable connectivity to the global broadband Internet. A few of the key projects Burt oversees is the development of the statewide digital equity plan, digital equity grants, the FCC Affordable Connectivity Program, the establishment of the Broadband Hui, community broadband networks and the creation of Hawaii’s digital economy study.

As Director of Strategic Business Development, Mr. Masutomi’s responsibilities include pursuing state and federal broadband funding and other strategic partnerships.

He also serves as Director of Network Planning & Engineering, responsible for designing and engineering a robust and technologically advanced fiber-based telecommunications network in accordance with Hawaiian Telcom’s strategic plans and objectives. His engineering and design team has responsibility for Hawaiian Telcom’s statewide outside plant fiber network including the interisland and Trans-Pacific fiber cable systems.

With over 35 years of experience in strategic planning and engineering of telecommunication systems in Hawai‘i, Mr. Masutomi has extensive knowledge of Hawai‘i’s broadband infrastructure, capabilities, and limitations across all carriers. He represents Hawaiian Telcom on the State’s Hawai‘i Broadband Advisory Council and the Military Advisory Council.

Mr. Masutomi is a graduate of Waiakea High School on Hawaii Island and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Santa Clara University. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®.

Daniel Masutomi

Director – Strategic Business

Development & Network

Planning & Engineering

Hawaiian Telcom

Screen Shot 2023-09-26 at 5.13.00 PM.png

Issa Moffett

GIS Consultant

Community

Mapping LLC

Issa Moffett is a GIS consultant through their small business, Community Mapping LLC, and works with 'Auamo Collaborative 501(c)(3), where they work together on broadband initiatives and transform data into powerful visual, interactive maps and metrics. Issa’s previous experience is with the County of Hawai'i Research and Development (R&D). They led efforts for understanding broadband coverage across Hawai’i Island by utilizing advanced spatial analysis, statistics, and Python scripting. For the past ten years, Issa has worked on other GIS projects in the fields of transportation planning, public health, and climate change.

Constancio Paranal III is a legal and technology professional with strong focus on cybersecurity and digital transformation. As the Innovation and Technology Program Director at the Office of Economic Revitalization, he leads initiatives related to broadband and serves as the primary designee by the City and County for the State of Hawai'i's Broadband Working Group. In his role, Constanico engages key stakeholders and fosters collaborative discussions on Broadband and Digital Equity. With prior experience as a Program Coordinator for Unemployment Insurance Technology modernization at the State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Constancio understands the role of technology in driving social services for the community.

In addition to his many roles, he further contributes to the field as a Pacific-Asian Center for Entrepreneurship faculty fellow at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, James has been a resident of Hawaii for over a decade. His commitment to making a positive impact extends beyond his career; he co-founded the Finley Fort Foundation, a small nonprofit organization providing emergency financial assistance to families with pets in need.

Constancio Paranal III
Innovation and Technology,
Program Manager
Office of Economic Revitalization
City and County of Honolulu

Nate Prescott
Business Specialist
Office of Economic Development
County of Kauai

Nate Prescott is the Business Specialist in the County of Kaua’i’s Office of Economic Development, where he works hard to empower local businesses and stimulate economic growth. He works on business and economic projects on a micro and macro level, leading and participating in long term projects and helping individual businesses overcome day-to-day challenges.

As an extension of his business focus, Nate champions the importance of robust internet connectivity. He firmly believes that high speed internet is essential for the people of Kaua’i to compete and succeed on a global level, and is essential for healthcare, job creation, the economy, and overall community well-being.

Rebecca J.ʻI. Soon has a background in community-based planning, strategic planning, and most recently in resilience planning as a way to create a better Hawaiʻi and ignite systemic change in and for Native Hawaiian and other marginalized communities. As the Chief Operations Officer for her planning firm, Solutions Pacific, and the President of Ward Research, Rebecca brings a passion for our communities and an extensive background as an executive within the government, non-profit, and small business sectors.

Having just recently been inducted into PBN’s 40 Under 40 cohort for 2023, Rebecca envisions a Hawaiʻi where all of our friends and family from across the pae ʻāina live and thrive together. As a Native Hawaiian business owner, she is passionate about local, home-grown small businesses and our under-represented and underserved communities as a way to empower and enrich the islands she calls home.

Rebecca Soon
Chief Operations Officer
Solutions Pacific

Rebecca Soon (Solutions Pacific) - Pic 2.jpeg

Worked on telecommunication issues since 2019. Started working for Hawaiian homelands in June of this year. Excited to be a part of this once in a life time opportunity.

Jaren Tengan
Office of the Chairman
Department of Hawaiian Homelands

Amber Ternus
Hawaii Digital

Equity Coordinator
Hawaii Broadband &
Digital Equity Office

Amber Ternus has over 25 years of experience working with community organizations and is currently serving as the State of Hawaii Digital Equity Coordinator, with the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office with DBEDT. She has a Master’s degree in Community Economic Development and Public Administration from the University of Victoria in Canada, where she is originally from. Currently she is working to support the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) outreach, the creation of the states first Digital Equity Plan, and in digital equity focused community engagement. Her past work was in emergency management as the states lead planner for post-disaster housing, with over 5 state level plans published under her leadership. The majority of her professional career has been spent working within non-profit organizations, specifically managing programs serving homeless populations and indigenous communities.

Kimberly Thayer
Senior Project Manager
Skog Rasmussen

Kim Thayer is a Senior Project Manager with Skog Rasmussen LLC, a Maui-based company that specializes in designing community and economic development solutions by working with new and existing businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and other community groups to design and tailor solutions that enable them to achieve their objectives. She is grateful to be part of a team of consultants contracted by DBEDT to develop the Hawaiʻi Digital Equity Plan through extensive community outreach, research, and data analysis. She has over ten years of experience in nonprofit administration, public outreach and education with the Mauna Kahalawai Watershed Partnership and five years of experience in land-use planning, outreach, and special studies with Munekiyo Hiraga. Kim has a Bachelor of Social Science, Honors Degree in Anthropology from James Cook University in Townsville, Australia.

Screen Shot 2023-09-26 at 5.13.10 PM.png

Jason Thune
Vice President – Fiber Strategy & Deployment
Hawaiian Telcom

Mr. Thune began his career at Hawaiian Telcom as a summer intern in 1998. Over his nearly 25-year career with the company, he has held key leadership roles in different areas, including customer operations, network operations, network planning and IT. Prior to being promoted to vice president in August 2022, he served as Executive Director - Fiber Strategy and Deployment.

To help bring fiber broadband to some of Hawai‘i’s most rural areas, primarily on the neighbor islands, Mr. Thune spearheaded projects to pursue federal grants from the Connect America Fund Phase II, Connect America Fund Phase II Auction and Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. His efforts led to Hawaiian Telcom securing $68.5 million to enable 23,000 locations in rural areas with fiber broadband.

Mr. Thune earned a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – College of Business, and an MBA from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa - Shidler College of Business.

He was recognized as one of the 40 Under Forty by Pacific Business News in 2017 and he is a member of the Pacific Century Fellows class of 2016.
Mr. Thune serves on the board of the Aloha Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Screen Shot 2023-09-30 at 3.49.05 PM.png

Garret T. Yoshimi
Vice President for

Information Technology

& Chief Information Officer
University of Hawai‘i System

As the University of Hawai‘i’s vice president for information technology and chief information officer (VPIT/CIO), Garret Yoshimi is responsible for UH systemwide information technology systems and services. Yoshimi provides executive leadership in collaboratively setting forth the overall vision, goals, strategies and plans for the effective and appropriate use of information technologies to advance the UH System.

Yoshimi joined UH in January 2015. Prior to serving as UHVPIT/CIO, Yoshimi was vice president and chief operating officer for eWorld Enterprise Solutions. He brings to the university more than 35 years of experience in information technology in both the public and private sectors in Hawai‘i. He has served as the first CIO for the Hawai‘i Judiciary, senior technology executive for the East-West Center and CIO for DTRIC Insurance.

Yoshimi also previously served as telecommunications manager before being promoted to director of technology infrastructure for the University of Hawai‘i. He actively represented the University of Hawai‘i in state and national venues as a member of EDUCAUSE, Internet2 and the Association for College and University Technology Advancement, which awarded him the Bill D. Morris award for individual leadership.

A native of Honolulu, Yoshimi earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and a graduate certificate in telecommunications and information resource management from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.