Art+Design+Architecture - Hawaiʻi's Resilience: What Comes Next?

How do we build a more resilient Hawaiʻi while remaining rooted in the people, places, and values that define our islands?

That question brought together four leaders from government, academia, sustainability, and environmental science for the latest installment of AHL's Art + Design + Architecture panel series. Moderated by AHL President & CEO Bettina Mehnert, FAIA, LEED AP, the conversation explored resilience not as a single discipline, but as a shared responsibility spanning climate, culture, community, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship.

Throughout the evening, our panelists challenged conventional thinking, discussed the importance of Indigenous knowledge and cross-sector collaboration, and shared their perspectives on how Hawaiʻi can adapt, innovate, and thrive in the face of change.

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The conversation features (from left to right):

• Dr. Kealoha Fox, PhD, Chief Resilience Officer & Executive Director, City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency
• Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā, CEO, Hawaiʻi Green Growth
• Dr. Charles "Chip" Fletcher, PhD, Dean, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST)
• Christina Jayne, Coral Aquatic Biologist & Coral Nursery Curator, Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources

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Together, they explore questions including:

• What does resilience mean for Hawaiʻi today?
• Why must resilience be approached across disciplines rather than in silos?
• How can Indigenous values help shape more sustainable solutions?
• What role do science, stewardship, and community play in strengthening Hawaiʻi's future?
• What gives us hope as we look toward the next generation?

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Mahalo to Chef Shayne

Guests enjoyed a thoughtfully curated menu by Chef Shayne, a Honolulu-based private chef and culinary educator whose work is rooted in local flavors, global techniques, and meaningful hospitality. Inspired by bringing people together through familiar island flavors and ingredients connected to the land, the evening's light refreshments reflected the same spirit of connection and community that defined the conversation.

About the Art + Design + Architecture Series

Since 2017, AHL's Art + Design + Architecture panel series has brought together leaders from diverse disciplines to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping Hawaiʻi. By encouraging community dialogue across industries, the series serves as a catalyst for inspiration, connection, and innovation.

Credits

Photography: AHL
Video Production: KaiHonua LLC