Speakers and Performers

TEDxHonolulu 2012 SPEAKERS & PERFORMERS

Lyla Berg State Coordinator for Project Citizen Founder of Kids Voting Hawaii As the founder of Kids Voting Hawaii and host of the weekly television series "Voices for Change", Lyla Berg deeply believes in the civic mission of schools, and the capacity of young people to be the compassionate, creative, and critical thinkers that society needs for balance, opportunity, and prosperity in our communities. She has over 15 years of service with the Hawai'i Department of Education, and served three terms as Vice-Chair of the Education Committee in East O'ahu. Lyla's consulting company offers facilitation in leadership development, effective communication skills, and interpersonal relationships.

Brian Bielmann Photographer Brian Bielmann Photography As an internationally renowned photographer, Brian Bielmann has traveled extensively with many of the world's best surfers, including Bruce and Andy Irons, Kelly Slater, and many others. He captures all aspects of the sport, and continues to push the boundaries of photography both above and below the water. His passion for surfing and photography have kept him on the cutting edge for over 35 years. He has been published in every major surf publication around the world, and is still considered one of the most prolific and inspiring photographers of the modern era. Brian is a model example of how one person can make a huge difference in the lives of many through Technology, Entertainment and Design.


Scott Fisher Director of Conservation Hawaiian Islands Land Trust Scott Fisher has been working for the Maui Coastal Land Trust since 2003, leading all aspects of the ecological restoration work conducted by the land trust. With an M.A. in peace studies and native Hawaiian strategies of peacemaking and reconciliation, his Ph.D. explored how communities make decisions over natural resources. He has served on the Maui/Lana‘i Island Burial Council and, more recently, as a board member of the Hawai‘i Wetlands Joint Venture, Public Access Trails Hawai‘i, the Friends of Midway Atoll, and the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council.

 

Forest A. Frizzell Deputy Director Department of Information Technology City and County of Honolulu A winner of the Pacific Business News “40 under Forty” award, Forest Frizzell leads a team recently awarded the #1 Digital City award by the Center for Digital Governance, as well as #1 as Code for America Cities. With over 11 years in the tech industry, Forest's current projects include automation of the Motor Pool for Fleet Reduction, Government Transparency Websites,and Smarter Cities Initiatives, including the release of multiple mobile and web apps, Social Media, Cloud Computing, Disaster Recovery Preparedness, and much more. He sits on the States Office of Information Managements and Technology’s Innovation Working Group, as well as State of Hawaii Infrastructure Planning Group.

 

Timber Hawkeye Author Buddhist Boot Camp Praised by thousands around the world for his intentions to awaken, enlighten, enrich and inspire, Timber Hawkeye prescribes gratitude as medicine for people to heal themselves from the inside out. His message invites the best version of you to resurface, inevitably leading to the true meaning of success (being happy), and better health (mental, physical, emotional and spiritual). In an ongoing effort to eradicate society’s ever-growing sense of entitlement, which he considers nothing short of an epidemic, and replace it with a sense of appreciation for each breath we are given, Timber shares mindfulness-enhancing techniques that anyone can relate to and implement in their daily lives.


Paul Klink Author Live Aloha After a life-threatening heart condition caused him to reassess his priorities, Paul Klink models what it's like to embody the philosophy of “Live Aloha,” which is a motto he authored back in 1994, still seen on signs and bumper stickers throughout the state of Hawai‘i. As a digital technology expert, direct response marketing guru, philanthropist and fundraising specialist, Paul is a true Renaissance man. His company has handled innovative technology solutions for global clients in the areas of international communication, homeland security, evolving high-tech analysis and internet marketing. He now puts the Fun into FUNdraising with LUX VIP Events Hawaii, and meets each challenge with a smile.


Olin Lagon Director of Social Ventures Kanu Hawaii Olin is a technology innovator who is nationally recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year for Social Impact (HVCA), Small Business Advocate of the Year (SBA), and as one of the 25 people who will shape the next 25 years (Hawaii Business). He co-founded several companies, and has helped invent pioneering technologies in multiple fields, including website localization and crowdfunding. Olin’s technologies have been adopted by several Fortune 500 companies, as well as organizations like MIT and even TED. He spent half his life in the U.S. Navy, the Peace Corps, and several non-profit organizations. Born and raised in a single-parent household in public housing in Hawaii, he now lives in Kalihi Valley with his wife and two sons.


Aaron Lowe Trails and Access Specialist Division of Forestry and Wildlife Dept. of Land and Natural Resources With over 30 years of hiking and outdoor recreation experience, Aaron Lowe has been managing all 100 miles of forestry trails on O'ahu since 1995. This includes administration and maintenance, from chain sawing large fallen trees with prison inmates, to authorizing a trailside permit for major film productions like “The Hunger Games”. Aaron believes that human respect for nature can start with a simple hiking trail, and wants to implement creative ways for people to enjoy, learn and respect nature. To that end, he is working on developing a sculpture trail, and uses modern forms of technology to expand his interpretive sign program.


Mark Patterson Warden Women’s Community Correctional Center Mark Patterson's vision for the Women's Community Correctional Center is to create a Pu`uhonua – a sanctuary, a place of healing and transformation. His strategy includes taking a community-building approach through partnership formation that will have a transforming systemic effect on the Criminal Justice System, utilizing mind, body, spirit and place-perspective, and incorporating a trauma informed system of care framework. With over 25 years of public safety experience in both Hawaii and Nevada, his career began as an adult corrections officer, now a Warden for the past five years. Mark was raised on the island of O'ahu in Waianae, he is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, attended New Mexico Military Institute, and holds a degree in criminology from Florida State University.

 

Guy Toyama Executive Director Friends of NELHA Guy Toyama is the Executive Director of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai'i Authority, a unique educational facility for renewable energy. He is also the President and CEO of H2 Technologies, a developer of hydrogen application systems for energy storage and transportation. Guy also serves on the boards of Kanu Hawai‘i, Blue Revolution Hawai'i, the Hawai'i County Mayor's Energy and Advisory Commission, Hawai‘i Island Leadership Series, and is a leading participant in the Hawaii-Okinawa Clean Energy Task Force.

Teresa Wong Executive Director Innovation Center at Rehab Hospital of the Pacific Teresa Wong leads a “think tank” created to facilitate innovative synergies between clinicians, scientists, and community partners locally, nationally and internationally. Fusing her 20 years of clinical expertise with her understanding of rapidly developing technologies, she challenges the premise of what physical rehabilitation ought to be. Teresa has written numerous articles on stroke rehabilitation for various professional publications, and presented on topics such as integrating robotics into rehabilitation programs in the United States as well as Canada, Beijing, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

TEDxHonolulu 2012 PERFORMERS