HONOLULU, HI – The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, in partnership with AE Consulting, hosted the second annual Bridging Education & Industry: Hawaii Sector Partnerships Educator Community of Practice on April 22, 2026, at the Entrepreneurs Sandbox. The event brought together approximately 50 educators and industry leaders from across the state to deepen collaboration, share best practices, and strengthen alignment between education and the state’s high-demand industries.

Sector Partnerships is a statewide initiative convened by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii that brings together employers, educators, and workforce partners across key industries — Clean Energy, Creative Industries, Engineering, Healthcare, Information Technology, Natural Resources (convened by Kupu), and Transportation — to build a stronger, more aligned talent pipeline. Rooted in the 2030 Blueprint for Hawaii‘s priorities of workforce development, strengthened career pathways, and economic diversification and resilience, the Community of Practice was established to bridge that gap, bringing educators and industry leaders together to align career pathways, surface workforce trends, and better prepare Hawaii’s students for in-demand careers.

“Sector Partnerships was built on the belief that education and industry are stronger when they work together, and this Community of Practice is where that belief becomes reality,” says Lord Ryan Lizardo, VP of Education & Workforce Development at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. “Watching educators walk away with new industry connections, practical tools, and a clearer picture of what Hawaii’s workforce needs is exactly what we set out to create.”

AE Consulting opened the day with a comprehensive overview of workforce trends across these industries, highlighting sector growth, in-demand occupations, and the top skills local employers seek in candidates.

An employer panel featuring industry leaders in Air Transportation (Jadyne Yomono, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines), Healthcare (Tim Pfingsten, Adventist Health Castle), Creative Industries (Ed Lallier, PlayVS), and Natural Resources (Charles Lee, DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources) offered candid insights into the current and future demands of their sectors. Discussions centered on high-need roles, the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce, and the critical importance of durable skills such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability.

Alan Ito of the University of Hawaii and CIO Council of Hawaii presented on the rapidly evolving technology landscape, noting how AI advancements and increased competition from experienced job seekers are reshaping entry-level opportunities in the field.

“As educators, it’s more important than ever to understand the expectations and needs of employers as we prepare our future generations to be contributing and vibrant participants in our communities,” Ito says. “Our rapidly changing world today, with the growing use of AI and other technologies, make this especially critical across all industries and sectors.”

Attendees got to engage with Hawaii Career Explorer, a new AI career assistant tool available through the University of Hawaii that delivers real-time labor market data to help students and educators navigate career pathways and job opportunities.

Jeannie Lum of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and Amberlene Thompson of Pacxa led a session on workforce evaluations for the classroom, equipping educators with practical strategies for implementing evaluation processes and sharing employer perspectives on what meaningful assessments look like in the workplace.

Glenn Mendoza of Leeward Community College facilitated an interactive durable skills session, guiding participants through activities designed to embed essential workplace competencies into everyday learning experiences.

Pathway-based networking sessions gave educators dedicated time to reflect on the day’s industry insights, exchange best practices for student preparation, and identify opportunities to better align secondary and postsecondary pathways.

“The Educator Community of Practice was valuable because it created a direct exchange between educators and industry leaders about how our CTE, workforce development, and trade-based curriculum connects to real opportunities beyond the classroom,” says Jay Smith, Computer Science Instructor at Campbell High School’s STEAM Academy. “The speakers were excellent, and hearing their perspectives firsthand was invaluable in helping educators better align student learning with the needs and possibilities of Hawaiʻi’s workforce. Ultimately, events like this reinforce that the goal is not simply what happens during a class period, but how that learning opens pathways into post-secondary education, meaningful careers, and future entrepreneurship.”

Sector Partnerships has the following upcoming events for 2026:

• Future of Work Conference, September 23
• IT Career Pathways Summit, November 2

Email Lord Ryan Lizardo, VP of Education & Workforce Development, for more information: lrlizardo@cochawaii.org.