2026 HLA Conference: Full Schedule

8:45am HST

Opening Remarks

Tuesday November 10, 2026 8:45am - 9:00am HST

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.

Tuesday November 10, 2026 8:45am - 9:00am HST
[Online] Track 1

Business

9:00am HST

Artificial Intelligence

Tuesday November 10, 2026 9:00am - 9:55am HST

[Online] Track 1

Two keynote presentations exploring artificial intelligence and its implications for information professionals.

https://2026hlaconference.weebly.com/keynotes.html

Speakers

Kelsey Amos

Purple Maiʻa Foundation

Tuesday November 10, 2026 9:00am - 9:55am HST
[Online] Track 1

Keynote

10:00am HST

Beyond the Bars: Building Networks of Legal Information Access - The Supreme Court Law Library’s Outreach to Detained and Incarcerated Communities

Tuesday November 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am HST

[Online] Track 1

Sharing the Supreme Court Law Library’s experience with providing access to legal information for a marginalized and overlooked population.

Speakers

Marlene Cuenco

Public Services Librarian, Supreme Court Law Library, Hawai‘i State Judiciary

Tuesday November 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am HST
[Online] Track 1

Breakout Session

10:00am HST

Connecting with Patrons with AI Help or How to be an Efficient Cyborg

Tuesday November 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am HST

[Online] Track 2

In this session I want to discuss how to use AI to help workflows and provide a better patron experience.

Speakers

Aamir Abdullah

Reference and Instructional Services Librarian, The University of Hawaiʻi School of Law Library

Tuesday November 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am HST
[Online] Track 2

Breakout Session

10:00am HST

Waipahu: Connecting Networks of Abundance

Tuesday November 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am HST

[Online] Track 3

The place name of Waipahu refers to waters gushing forth, as the abundant springs in the area nourished those who gathered there. Being an educator and librarian at Waipahu Intermediate School, the abundant spring serves as a fitting metaphor for my work; to keep the waters flowing, I rely on networks of people and organizations to keep the knowledge and experiences abundant for our students. In...
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Speakers

Lori Misaka

School LIbrarian, Waipahu Intermediate School

Lori Misaka is a librarian at Waipahu Intermediate School, with an MLIS from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and MFA from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Previously an ELA teacher at Waipahu High School, her experience in the EL department and Academy of Arts and Communication... Read More →

Tuesday November 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am HST
[Online] Track 3

Breakout Session

10:30am HST

Don't Get Lost in Tomorrow: Navigating Trends with Future Thinking

Tuesday November 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am HST

[Online] Track 1

The future doesn't arrive all at once. It arrives as signals, trends, and quiet shifts that, if we're not paying attention, can leave us and our communities behind. This interactive session aims to equip information professionals with a practical toolkit to help them scan the horizon, clarify their professional direction, and communicate their vision to stakeholders.Drawing on the Cone of...
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Speakers

Danielle Todd

Staff Development Coordinator, Hawaii State Public Library System

Danielle Todd is the Staff Development Coordinator for the Hawaii State Public Library System. Her main duties include planning, and implementing learning opportunities for all HSPLS staff, to ensure they can confidently provide the best possible service to patrons.

Tuesday November 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am HST
[Online] Track 1

Breakout Session

10:30am HST

How the ocean connects us: Creating research guides that engage with the networks of knowledge and power in Hawaiʻi and Pacific resources

Tuesday November 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am HST

[Online] Track 2

The information environment for Hawaiʻi and Pacific resources exists as complex networks of knowledge shaped by place, identity, community, colonial histories, institutional collecting practices, and competing claims to authority. For librarians and information workers, creating a research guide is never a neutral act. The sources we select, the voices we amplify, and the annotations we write all...
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Speakers

Kapena Shim

Hawaiian Collection Librarian, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Kapena is a Hawaiʻi Specialist Librarian in the Hawaiian Collection at Hamilton Library at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He received an MLISc and a dual BA in Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian Language from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Alyssa (Anela) Purcell

Hawaiian Collection Librarian, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Alyssa ʻĀnela Purcell is an Archivist for the Kahoʻiwai Project at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She holds a BA in Hawaiian Studies and an MLISc, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Indigenous Politics.

Corri Beadle

Library Technical Assistant, William S. Richardson School of Law Library

Corri Beadle is an LIS Graduate Student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and holds a MSc in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology from the University of East London, and a MA in English Literature from California State University, Northridge.

Alyssa (Aly) Lau

LIS Graduate Student, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa

Tuesday November 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am HST
[Online] Track 2

Breakout Session

11:00am HST

Librarians Unite: Sharing Life Skills Ideas to Connect and Engage Young Adults

Tuesday November 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am HST

[Online] Track 3

Today's teens are growing up in an increasingly complex world and many are entering adulthood feeling unprepared for everyday responsibilities. Libraries have a unique opportunity to bridge this gap by helping them build confidence, practical skills, and meaningful connections at the library.In this interactive and idea-filled session, participants will discover practical ways to incorporate life...
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Speakers

Kimberli Buckley

MLIS Instructor, San Jose State University

Tuesday November 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am HST
[Online] Track 3

Breakout Session

12:15pm HST

HLA Business Meeting

Tuesday November 10, 2026 12:15pm - 12:45pm HST

[Online] Track 1

Tuesday November 10, 2026 12:15pm - 12:45pm HST
[Online] Track 1

Business

1:00pm HST

Fundraising & Budgets

Tuesday November 10, 2026 1:00pm - 1:55pm HST

[Online] Track 1

Two keynote presentations about fundraising, budgets, and sustaining Hawaiʻi’s information and cultural organizations.

https://2026hlaconference.weebly.com/keynotes.html

Speakers

Nainoa Mau

Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi

Michele Mitsumori

Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities

Halena Kapuni-Reynolds

Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities

Tuesday November 10, 2026 1:00pm - 1:55pm HST
[Online] Track 1

Keynote

2:00pm HST

Beyond Briefs & Brochures: Building Pathways to Well-Being Through Collaborative Programming

Tuesday November 10, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm HST

[Online] Track 3

Libraries routinely connect community members with information about health, education, social services, financial literacy, and other wellness resources. Yet brochures, websites, and referrals alone may not be enough to encourage engagement, particularly when stigma, uncertainty, or lack of familiarity create barriers to help-seeking.Drawing on a programming framework developed to target holistic...
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Speakers

Lauren Cleveland

Programming Librarian, Marine Corps Base Hawaii

I’m the Programming Librarian at Marine Corps Base Hawaii Library. I design programs that connect our community with resources and opportunities that make life on base a little easier and a lot more fun.

Tuesday November 10, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm HST
[Online] Track 3

Breakout Session

2:00pm HST

Creating Space for Everyone @ the Library

Tuesday November 10, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm HST

[Online] Track 1

As we continue to experience divided communities and people who believe every conversation is win or lose, our libraries face the challenge of creating space for everyone. Join us for this interactive session to talk about the power of language and strategies for us to continue to be democratic spaces for all.

Speakers

Stacey Aldrich

State Librarian, Hawaii State Public Library System

Stacey Aldrich has more than 20 years of library experience, and is currently the State Librarian of Hawaii. Prior to Hawaii, she served as the Deputy Secretary for the Office of Commonwealth Libraries in Pennsylvania and State Librarian of California. Stacey has also worked in public... Read More →

Jarrid P. Keller

Deputy Director/Chief Operations Officer, Sacramento Public Library

Tuesday November 10, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm HST
[Online] Track 1

Breakout Session

2:00pm HST

Trudging Through the Weeds: Cultivating a Living Collection Under Real-World Constraints

Tuesday November 10, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm HST

[Online] Track 2

This session offers an honest and practical look at weeding at Honolulu Community College Library under severe constraints: limited time, staff shortages, and administrative pressure to downsize. We will explore the friction between ideal weeding principles and the realistic compromises required to get the job done. Specifically, we will share our process for weeding, and how we come to terms with...
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Speakers

Alicia Yanagihara

Librarian, Honolulu Community College

Jennifer Magdaloyo

Librarian, Honolulu Community College

Tuesday November 10, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm HST
[Online] Track 2

Breakout Session

3:00pm HST

An Introduction to Disaster Planning in Troubled Times

Tuesday November 10, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm HST

[Online] Track 2

Subject to a range of increasingly devastating disasters, from earthquakes and tsunamis, to volcanic eruptions and hurricanes, Hawaiʻi is at risk for wildfires, flooding, sinkholes, and landslides. When facing a disaster, each of us needs to prepare for our own personal safety, and that of our families, while cultural heritage stewards also find themselves responsible for the care of physical and...
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Speakers

Liane Naauao

Paper Conservator, University of Hawaii at Manoa Library

Malia Van Heukelem

Art Archivist Librarian, University of Hawaii at Manoa Library

Malia oversees the Jean Charlot Collection, a large collection of artist papers, plus the Archive of Hawaii Artists & Architects at University of Hawaii at Manoa Library. Previously, she worked in the Library's Preservation Department, and has served as Collections Manager for the... Read More →

Tuesday November 10, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm HST
[Online] Track 2

Breakout Session

3:00pm HST

Labor Archives and Worker Empowerment

Tuesday November 10, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm HST

[Online] Track 3

Labor Archivist-Librarians Joy Enomoto and Ellen-Rae Cachola will talk about the origins of our libraries and repositories, namely the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Center for Labor Education and Research. We will discuss the challenges we face in educating members and all workers about the significance of our labor libraries and labor archives, and how they educate and...
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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.

Joy Enomoto

ILWU Archivist-Librarian, International Longshore and Warehouse Union

Tuesday November 10, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm HST
[Online] Track 3

Breakout Session

3:00pm HST

Youth Services Unite! A Discussion Session for Librarians Working with Children or Teens

Tuesday November 10, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm HST

[Online] Track 1

Children’s and Teen Librarians, grow your network of knowledge and let’s share with each other! Come prepared to talk about and share your favorite or recent programs, displays, and ideas! Got a question or want some feedback from your colleagues? Ask away! This talk-story is perfect for librarians, library staff, or students looking to brainstorm, make new connections, or learn...
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Speakers

Jennifer Vinzons

Youth Services Librarian III, Kapolei Public Library

Jennifer Vinzons uses the term "Artist Librarian" to describe her educational background of a BA in studio art and her MLISc. Besides representing her two passions, it also reflects her goal to instill a lifelong love of reading, creativity, and learning in all patrons regardless... Read More →

Tuesday November 10, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm HST
[Online] Track 1

Breakout Session

4:00pm HST

It's More than a Game, It's an Attitude

Tuesday November 10, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm HST

[Online] Track 2

Presenters will discuss the benefits of gamifying aspects of the workday, as a means of improving morale and taking positive action.

Speakers

Kylee Munro

Librarian, Hawaii State Public Library System (Waikiki-Kapahulu)

Sarah Gayda

Branch Manager, Hawaii State Public Library System (Waikiki-Kapahulu)

Tuesday November 10, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm HST
[Online] Track 2

Breakout Session

4:00pm HST

Where Will the Work Make a Difference? Navigating Capacity and Constraint in Libraries

Tuesday November 10, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm HST

[Online] Track 3

Libraries, archives, and museums are increasingly asked to navigate complex decisions amid shifting priorities, evolving technologies, constrained resources, and organizational change. While technical best practices remain essential, they do not always help us determine where limited time and effort will make the greatest difference, or how to sustain the people doing this work.This session...
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Speakers

Stacey Jones

Digital Preservation Librarian, University of Arizona/Digital POWRR

Tuesday November 10, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm HST
[Online] Track 3

Breakout Session

4:00pm HST

"Busy Hands for Little Minds: Connecting Early Literacy, Fine Motor Skills, and Library Collections through Interactive Learning Stations

Tuesday November 10, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm HST

[Online] Track 1

While storytimes are an integral component of library programming that supports early literacy development, learning does not have to be confined to a scheduled program. Thoughtfully designed hands-on learning stations can extend literacy and development experiences throughout the day, inviting children and caregivers to explore, play, and learn together at their own pace.This session explores how...
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Speakers

Lynda Hagan

Library Technician, Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Lauren Cleveland

Programming Librarian, Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Tuesday November 10, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm HST
[Online] Track 1

Breakout Session

4:30pm HST

ʻAʻohe Pau ka ʻIke i ka Hālau Hoʻokahi: Building a Network of ʻIke Across Disciplines

Tuesday November 10, 2026 4:30pm - 4:55pm HST

[Online] Track 2

In this session, UH Mānoa LIS students ʻAulani and Kainani Wagner will discuss the projects they are working on in their respective roles as graduate assistants. Though their work is different, they are connected by their shared goal of improving accessibility to ʻike Hawaiʻi in the information sphere through ʻAulani's reparative descriptions of records and Kainani's transcription of nūpepa....
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Speakers

ʻAulani Wagner

Library & Information Science and American Studies Student, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Kainani Wagner

Library & Information Science and Pacific Island Studies Student, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Tuesday November 10, 2026 4:30pm - 4:55pm HST
[Online] Track 2

Breakout Session

4:30pm HST

Library, Landmark, or Social Media Stage? Rethinking Public Engagement through South Korea’s Starfield Library

Tuesday November 10, 2026 4:30pm - 4:55pm HST

[Online] Track 3

Located inside Seoul’s COEX shopping mall, Starfield Library is widely recognized for its dramatic bookshelves, open design, and popularity among tourists and social media users. Many visitors come primarily to photograph the space rather than to read, raising questions about whether this kind of activity distracts from the purpose of a library or creates new forms of public engagement.Previous...
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Speakers

Chi-Yuen Wu

Graduate Student, UHM Library and Information Science Program

Tuesday November 10, 2026 4:30pm - 4:55pm HST
[Online] Track 3

Breakout Session

11:30am HST

A Huakaʻi to Some of Hilo's Historic Places

Thursday November 12, 2026 11:30am - 5:30pm HST

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