2026 HLA Conference: Full Schedule

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10:00am HST

Uilo: Braiding Identity and Meaning Through Poetry and Art

Saturday November 14, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm HST

Uilo describes the eight strand braid used for the lei niho palaoa, the lei worn by aliʻi consisting of braided human hair and a curved sperm whale tooth pendant showing their high rank lineage. As with much of Hawaiian culture, we have had to adapt and change the way we practice since contact. In this keynote, the uilo will be used as both metaphor and practice of how we can weave our experiences to connect and build intentional community. It ultimately shows why we should continue to hold humanity at the center of everything we do.

In the workshop to follow, participants have the opportunity to learn the practice of haku kaula, or making rope, as a way to process and learn patience, perseverance, and even a kind of meditation. They will be able to make their own bracelet, anklet, or necklace with nylon cord and learn the 4, 6, and/or 8 strand braid. This practice acts as functional, aesthetic, and spiritual by allowing participants to learn a tactile, possibly new, skill, its connection to Hawaiian culture, and a beautiful piece they can wear or gift to someone they love.

Speakers

Leilani Portillo

Poet & Educator

leilani portillo (they/ʻo ia) is a Kanaka ʻŌiwi artist-educator and graduate student in English at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. They teach HS English on Hawaiʻi island hoping to inspire the next generation of Kānaka to see the world differently, become more empathetic... Read More →

Saturday November 14, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm HST
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo 93 Banyan Dr, Hilo, HI 96720

Keynote

12:00pm HST

Lunch

Saturday November 14, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm HST

Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo

Saturday November 14, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm HST
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo 93 Banyan Dr, Hilo, HI 96720

Refresh & Recharge

2:00pm HST

"How Many Water Bottles Does It Cost to Make an Intro-to-Ai Curriculum?"

Saturday November 14, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm HST

Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo

A walk through our experience creating an "Ai Unit" for our incoming 9th grade students. Ai integration has been haphazard in many fields of education, and we hope to illustrate our process in implementing a thoughtfully-created curriculum.

Speakers

Nicole Goff

Library Director, Mid-Pacific Institute

I love to chat about cats and books and class activities and books and easy recipes and books. Making our library a fun space is what drives heart at work, so I love learning new ways to make information literacy engaging. Reading is my passion, and I am never without a book, but... Read More →

Cherie Yanek

Librarian, Mid-Pacific Institute

I've worked as a school librarian, academic librarian, nonprofit librarian, and corporate librarian - and my favorite is school librarian, which is what I am now! I love collection development, incorporating DEI into libraries, and reading.

Saturday November 14, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm HST
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo 93 Banyan Dr, Hilo, HI 96720

Focus Session

2:45pm HST

Pūnaewele Pākīpika

Saturday November 14, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm HST

Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo

Presentation will introduce attendees to a curated collection of online resources from across the Pacific designed to support K–12 haumāna and Kumu by providing accessible, engaging, and culturally relevant materials for learning about the region.

Speakers

Keikilani Meyer

Librarian, Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi

Kelela Moʻo

MLIS Student, San Jose State University

Saturday November 14, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm HST
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo 93 Banyan Dr, Hilo, HI 96720

Focus Session

3:45pm HST

Poster Session

Saturday November 14, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm HST

Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo

Saturday November 14, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm HST
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo 93 Banyan Dr, Hilo, HI 96720

Poster Session

about <br>

5:00pm HST

President's Closing Remarks

Saturday November 14, 2026 5:00pm - 5:05pm HST

Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo

Speakers

Ellen-Rae Cachola

CLEAR Librarian & Digital Archivist, Center for Labor Education and Research, University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu

Ellen-Rae Cachola, Ph.D., MLISc, is the Librarian and Digital Archivist at the Center for Labor Education and Research, University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu.

Saturday November 14, 2026 5:00pm - 5:05pm HST
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo 93 Banyan Dr, Hilo, HI 96720

Business

about <br>

2026 HLA Conference

10:00am HST

Leilani Portillo

12:00pm HST

2:00pm HST

Nicole Goff

Cherie Yanek

2:45pm HST

Keikilani Meyer

Kelela Moʻo

3:45pm HST

5:00pm HST

Ellen-Rae Cachola

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