MEDIA RELEASE

Business leaders, educators, policy makers, and those interested in advancing green workforce development can now register for the Hawaii County Green Workforce Development Summit slated for 8:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Hawaii Preparatory Academy.

This summit is presented in partnership with the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Island Workforce & Economic Development Ohana, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, and ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability.

Mayor Billy Kenoi and Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) Director Dwight Takamine will welcome participants, followed by a keynote address by Bill Wiecking, Director of Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s globally recognized Energy Lab.

Wiecking has been an educator in Hawaii for more than 30 years, and will share his vision of creating a learning facility for the study of energy and sustainability using the Big Island as a model for a sustainable planet.

Participants will hear from 18 local experts across four panel sessions discussing issues such as the current assessment and outlook on green jobs, employer perspectives and challenges, bridging the skills gap, and an interactive town hall forum on sustaining the green economy.

Event registration includes a unique tour of the zero-net-energy Hawaii Preparatory Academy Energy Lab, the first K-12 school building in the world to have received Living Building Challenge certification (which goes beyond LEED Platinum).

“The DLIR is committed to leading a sustainable green economy through informed decision-making and a skilled and trained workforce,” Takamine said. “We intend to engage our local community through active dialogue – not just in our involvement with this green conference, but every day.”

— Find out more:
www.HiwedoHawaii.org