Hawaii County is hosting a Hawaii Island Early Childhood Conference dedicated to early childhood education practitioners.
This event will take place Friday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Courtyard by Marriott-King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. The theme is “Huliau – A Time of Change.”
“We invite all dedicated early childhood education practitioners to join us as we embrace a period of significant change together,” Mayor Mitch Roth said in a press release. “The future of our keiki depends on a high-quality education that opens doors to better lifelong opportunities. Our commitment, as an administration, is to enable our keiki to raise their keiki here in Hawaii, and early childhood education is instrumental in building a strong foundation for this goal.”
The conference begins with a dinner at the hotel’s Honu’s restaurant on Friday evening, featuring a keynote address by Susan Gale Perry, an expert in early childhood education and child care trends. Perry, CEO of Child Care Aware of America, will provide insights on making a positive impact on child care.
On Saturday, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke will update participants about the state’s Ready Keiki initiative.
The day starts at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast and includes workshops on advocacy, local initiatives and early literacy development. The event concludes at 3:30 p.m.
“This conference offers the latest information to practitioners and explores early literacy teaching strategies,” said Angela Thomas, Hawaii County early childhood resource coordinator, in the press release. “The theme, ‘Huliau — A Time of Change,’ reflects the opportunities to enhance early childhood education.”
Registration options include Friday night’s dinner and keynote for $30, Saturday’s workshops for $40, or a two-day experience for $60. Special hotel rates are available for attendees.
To register for this event, visit https://tinyurl.com/mtjyj4px.
For questions or more information, contact Chelsea LaFrance at chelsea.lafrance@hawaiicounty.gov or call (808) 887-6077.
