Teachers, administrators intived to learn how to rebuild the village that nurtures our keiki during early childhood conference

The second Hawaiʻi Island Early Childhood Conference promises to offer cutting-edge information and professional development for teachers and administrators who work with young children.

Sponsored by Hawaiʻi County and Friends of the Future, the conference is set for Sept. 13-14 at the Courtyard by Marriott-King Kamehamehaʻs Kona Beach Hotel. The theme for the event is “Manaʻolana – Rebuilding the Village that Nurtures our Keiki.”

“This year’s conference piggybacks on the 2023 conference, ‘Huliau – A Time of Change,’ and centers on providing our island’s early childhood professionals with the tools for handling the challenging behaviors being exhibited in post-COVID preschool classrooms, reinforcing Hawaiian values and building industry leaders,” said Hawaiʻi County Early Childhood Resources Coordinator Angela Thomas.

The conference includes an evening dinner and keynote speech by Waimea native and lifelong waʻa voyager Pōmai Bertelmann.

Bertelmann will use her experiences as a voyager and educator to encourage and uplift early childhood professionals and reinforce the importance of Hawaiian values in their lives and their work with young children.

A full day of workshops is also planned. Vendors and information tables will be available as well.

The workshops will cover five topics:

• Kindergarten entrance assessment.
• Guidance.
• Professional development.
• Curriculum.
• Family engagement.

“This conference is about our collective commitment to our keiki and their futures here in Hawaiʻi,” said Hawaiʻi County Mayor Mitch Roth. “Early childhood educators set a foundation for success in our youth, and providing them with the space to share their experiences while aligning their visions is something we believe is critical to our collective success. We hope that all interested stakeholders take advantage of this fantastic opportunity organized by Angela and her partners.”

The cost for the dinner and keynote speech Sept. 13 is $30. To attend only the workshops Sept. 14 is $40. Participation both days is a total of $60. The hotel is also offering special room rates for those who attend the conference.

To register, click here.

For questions, call 808-785-7090 or email to Chelsea Ching at ChelseaChingFOF@gmail.com.