Dates: Thursday June 4 and Friday June 5, 2026
Location: Ala Moana Hotel
Audience: HIDOE teachers and educational specialists, UH Faculty and IT Staff, Industry partners
Thursday, June 4, 2026
08:00 AM
09:00 AM
PCATT Welcome and 25th Anniversary Celebration
University of Hawaiʻi Welcome — Kim Siegenthaler, UH System
09:30 AM
Keynote Speaker
Chris Barton – Founder and Creator of Shazam, Entrepreneur, Inventor, and Tech Investor
Presenter: Chris Barton
- FOUNDER AND CREATOR OF SHAZAM, THE 1ST MASS CONSUMER AI PRODUCT IN HISTORY
- APPLE’S 6TH LARGEST ACQUISITION – OVER 2 BILLION DOWNLOADS, 100 BILLION SONGS SHAZAMED
- THREE-TIME STARTUP FOUNDER AND ADVISOR/INVESTOR TO STARTUPS
- FIRST HEAD OF MOBILE RELATIONSHIPS AT GOOGLE
- ONE OF FIRST 100 EMPLOYEES AT DROPBOX
- INVENTOR OF 12 PATENTS (ONE USED WITHIN GOOGLE ALGORITHM)
- TEACHES INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN 4 ONLINE UNIVERSITIES
10:30 AM
Track I — Trust in AI
Session — Auntie’s Advice for AI Ethics and Responsible Use
Presenter: Mericia Palma Elmore, SAG-AFTRA
Description: Ethical challenges, intellectual property, and news reporting. Two guest reporters
Track II — AI and the Future of Work
Session — Intro to AI and Gaming
Presenter: Monir Hodges, PCATT
Focus: Overview of AI technologies and applications in gaming. Interactive session.
Track III — Public/Social Interest in AI
Session — AI 101 Vibe Coding: Build and Launch Your Own Projects
Presenter: Gabriel Yanagihara
Description: In this interactive session, attendees will learn what AI is and what it is truly capable of in today’s landscape. We will then dive into how to use AI to rapidly prototype, build, and launch your own digital projects. Participants will explore the “vibe coding” workflow and leave with their own website, a project plan, and the AI skills needed to improve office productivity for free starting tomorrow.
Track IV — Mechanics of AI
Session — AI and the Internet of Things (IoT)
Presenter: Chad Morita
Description: Intersection of AI and IoT, smart applications, and data integration.
11:45 AM
12:15 PM
Lunch Panel
What should educators learn from entrepreneurs, and what should entrepreneurs learn from educators?
Chris Barton — Industry Partner
Kim Siegenthaler — UH System
HIDOE Representative
01:30 PM
Track I — Trust in AI
Session — Regulatory Perspectives on AI Trust
Presenter: TBA
Description: Review of GDPR, emerging regulations, and accountability frameworks.
Track II — AI and the Future of Work
Session — AI Workforce Resources from National Science Foundations
Presenter: Dr. Kim Scott, NSF
Focus: Resources from the National Science Foundation
Track III — Public/Social Interest in AI
Session — AI for Social Good
Presenter: Nicole Cacal, TRUE Initiative
Focus: Solving societal challenges such as climate change, education, and public health
Track IV — Mechanics of AI
Session — Understanding Machine Learning Algorithms
Presenter:Wayne Lewis, PCATT
Focus: Supervised vs. unsupervised learning
02:30 PM
Track I — Trust in AI
Session — Regulatory Perspectives on AI Trust
Presenter: Darsh Davé and Hunter Kirihara
Focus: Exploring sources of bias and strategies for mitigation
Track II — AI and the Future of Work
Session — Future Skills for Students
Presenter: Tara Lenovo
Focus: Preparing students for a workforce increasingly influenced by AI technologies
Track III — Public/Social Interest in AI
Session — Data is ʻĀina: Cultural Perspectives on AI
Presenter: Leimomi Bong,, Purple Mai’a
Focus: Cultural perceptions and inclusivity in AI design
Track IV — Mechanics of AI
Session — Apple Technologies and AI
Presenter: Nani Daniels, Apple
Focus: Technical deep dive into Apple Intelligence
03:45 PM
Friday, June 5, 2026
08:00 AM
09:00 AM
Keynote Speaker
TBA
10:15 AM
Track I — Trust in AI
Session — Trust by Design in the Age of AI
Presenter: Victoria Rivett, AI in Education
Description: This presentation explores how trust in AI should be developed intentionally rather than assumed. It explores how AI is reshaping the process in academia and other domains in how we come to know what is true, how knowledge is formed and information is interpreted. Participants will gain practical ways to verify and use AI with greater confidence in everyday work and life.
Track II — AI and the Future of Work
Session — Future Skills for Students
Presenter: Apple Technologies and AI
Focus: Preparing students for an AI-influenced workforce.
Track III — Public/Social Interest in AI
Session — TBA
Presenter: TBA
Track IV — Mechanics of AI
Session — How can AI tools help with grading? An ethical and practical dive into four effective techniques
Presenter: Kevin Mateo Lim
Description: AI Tools based on Large Language Models (LLMs) are changing education. In this session, I’ll talk about upgrades I’ve made to my process that reduce the grading burden while increasing feedback quality and improving student-teacher relationships.
11:30 AM
12:15 PM
Lunch Plenary (Wrap Up)
Topic: Diversifying our Economy via AI
Moderator: Hawaii Chamber of Commerce
01:00 PM
Track I — Trust in AI
Session — Misinformation and AI
Presenter: TBA
Focus: Navigating the landscape of fact vs. fiction and the public’s role
Track II — AI and the Future of Work
Session — AI in Health
Presenter: TBA
Focus: Benefits and challenges regarding patient privacy and equity
Track III — Public/Social Interest in AI
Session — The Human Edge in an AI World
Presenter: Noah Pomeroy, Mindfulness Catalyst
Description: Competing with machines is a losing game. So what is our human edge? As AI capabilities accelerate, the human capacities that technology cannot replace will matter more and more in education, work, and life. This session brings together current research, reflection, and guided practices to help participants strengthen those capacities and begin putting them to work.
Track IV — Mechanics of AI
Session — Building AI Models from Scratch
Hands-on session — 2 hours
Presenter: Presenter Name
Focus: Hands-on workshop using TensorFlow or PyTorch
02:00 PM
Track I — Trust in AI
Session — Trustworthy AI
Presenter: Gabriel Yanagihara
Focus: Understanding why AI works and the risk to human agency
Track II — AI and the Future of Work
Session — The Future is Bright: Building a Resilient Workforce in the Age of AI
Presenter: Nicole Bentely and Katie Admas, SAFAL
Description: The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and its impact on the American workforce have outpaced many individuals’s expectations. Nevertheless, workforce development professionals and educators are primed for the shift. The necessity to adapt, evolve, and modernize is fundamental to establishing a sustainable talent development strategy. This session will utilize the Registered Apprenticeship model as a case study to highlight best practices for incorporating AI literacy, education, and hands-on skills training into essential occupations without supplanting their existence.
Track III — Public/Social Interest in AI
Session — AI for Civic Engagement and Advocacy
Presenter: Seiichi Nagai, Civic Nexus
Focus: Implications of AI regulations for individuals and communities
Track IV — Mechanics of AI
Session — Explainable AI (XAI)
Presenter: Debasis Bhattacharya
Focus: Transparency and techniques for making AI understandable