Speaker Series

Speaker Series:

Periodically when outstanding speakers are scheduled to present to our leadership program participants, Leadership Kaua`i hosts speaker events open to everyone. Our Speaker Series events provide the Kaua`i community the opportunity to hear excellent presentations in a pleasant collegial atmosphere. It is hoped that this high quality forum will stimulate discussion and positive action on issues that concern our local comunity and humanity at large.

Upcoming Speakers:

bill_cathers_iconLeadership Under Pressure with William Cathers
Monday, November 10, 2008
8:00am – 11:00am or 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Kauai Civil Defense – EOC Room



Past Speakers
Dinesh D’Souza, February 18, 2006
Dealing with Difficult People, Craig Haptonstall – September 17, 2008
  • The Honorable Governor Linda Lingle, State of Hawai`i
  • Bill Cathers, Moderator for The Aspen Institute
  • Ronald Moon, Chief Justice, Hawai`i State Supreme Court
  • Kelvin Taketa, CEO, Hawai`i Community Foundation
  • General, Eric Shinseki, Former Chief of Staff, United States Army
  • George Ariyoshi, Former Hawaii State Governor
  • Allen Doane, President & CEO, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.
  • Admiral Tom Fargo, Former Commander Pacific Command. CEO, Trex Industries
  • Jay Furfaro, Councilman, County of Kauai
  • Peter Apo, Director, Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
  • Major General Eric “Rick” Olson, Former commander of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks and commander of the Combined Joint Task Force in Afghanistan
  • The Honorable Mayor Bryan Baptiste, County of Kaua`i
  • Herman Frazier, Athletic Director, University of Hawai`i
  • Nadine Nakamura, Principal of NKN Project Planning
  • Vince Goo, Retired Head Coach, University of Hawai`i’s Women`s Basketball
  • Auntie Mahi Poepoe, Kahuna La`au Lap`au, expert in lomi lomi
  • Maryanne Kusaka, Former Mayor, County of Kaua`i
  • Chris Faye, Founder, Gay & Robinson Sugar Plantation Visitor Center & Museum
  • Marilyn Wong, Youth & Senior Specialist, County of Kaua`i
  • Kehau Kekua, Executive Director, Kaua`i Heritage Center of Hawaiian Culture & Arts
  • Barbara Curl, Kaua`i Aloha Foundation
  • The Honorable Lt. Gov Duke Aiona, State of Hawai`i
  • Judy Drosd, Chief, Arts, Film & Entertainment Division, DBEDT
  • Roxanne MacDougall, Organizational Development, MacDougall & Associates
  • Eric Crispin, Former Planning Director, City & County of Honolulu
  • Ania Wieczorek, Ph.D., Bio Technology, University of Hawai`i
  • Paul Brewbaker, Bank of Hawai`i Economist
  • Puna Kalama Dawson, Kumu Hula
  • Admiral Kihune, Trustee, Kamehameha Schools, Bishop Estate
  • Peggy Cha, Chancellor, Kaua`i Community College
  • Peter Nakamura, County Clerk, Kaua`i County
  • Daniel Hamada, Complex Area Superintendent, Kaua`i Complex, Dept. of Education
  • Craig DeCosta, Prosecuting Attorney, County of Kaua`i
  • Adam Asquith, University of Hawai`i , Sea Grant College Extension Specialist
  • Sonia Manzano, Actress, Writer of Sesame Street
  • Dinesh D’Souza, Former White House Analyst, Reagan Administration
  • Craig Haptonstall, Master Facilitator, Leadership Practices Inventory
  • Noland Conjugation, Aboriginal Tracking Skills Presenter, Brother Noland Charities
  • Stacy Sproat, Executive Director, The Waipa Foundation
  • Kimo Chun, Director, Native Hawaiian Career & Technical Education Program
  • Sabra Kauka, Cultural Consultant
  • Aletha Kaohi, West Kauai Technology and Cultural Center
  • Caroline Miura, Family Counselor, Hale Hoomalu
  • Ronald Kouchi, Councilman, County of Kauai
  • Chipper Wichman, Executive Director, The Lawai National Tropical Botanical Garden
  • David Boynton, Kokee Resource Manager, Kauai Discovery Center
  • Ted Blake, Member, Koloa Community Association
  • Beryl Blaich, Executive Director, Malama Mahaulepu
  • Ramsay Taum
VISION
The Kaua`i Speaker Series is a collaborative forum that enriches the lives of all by effectively addressing global issues and their possible relevance within our local community.
MISSION
Through collaborative partnerships, The Kaua`i Speaker Series provides a high quality forum accessible to all, featuring prominent speakers from all over the world to stimulate discussion, positive action, and unity on issues concerning our local community and humanity at large.
BACKGROUND
A collaborative project of Leadership Kaua`i in partnership with Ambassadors of Aloha and Delta Kappa Gamma, The Kaua`i Speaker Series brings prominent speakers to the Garden Island several times a year. The Kaua`i Speaker Series is a bridge for Kaua`i to share our treasures with a diverse array of world leaders and for world leaders to share their ideas with the breadth of our local community, from youth to longtime residents, to visitors, and to newcomers. Over the course of the series, it is the intent of The Kaua`i Speaker Series Committee to offer a balance of viewpoints to stimulate minds and enrich the experience of the audience. The Kaua`i Speaker Series is a quality addition to the roster of cultural and educational events Kaua`i has to offer.

The Kaua`i Speaker Series was established in 2005 by a group of community leaders , and is seeded by Tom and Bonnie McCloskey of McCloskey and Company who also founded the McCloskey Speaker Series at The Aspen Institute. Recently, the McCloskey Speaker Series at The Aspen Institute featured former Disney Chief Michael Eisner and Pulitzer Prize winner and “New York Times” Foreign Affairs Columnist Bob Woodward.