Theme: Pacific Ideas for a Better Future

According to TED, "In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations)."
TEDxLaie will trumpet to the world the great ideas that come from Laie, Oahu, Hawaii, and the pacific community. It will be filmed and distributed to the entire world through TED so that the ideas that come from our small island can make a difference throughout the earth. The theme of TEDxLaie is “pacific ideas for a better future.” The conference will be one day of captivating talks that give probable solutions to local and international problems.

Hawaiian Journey Theatre
55-370 Kamehameha Hwy
Laie, Hawaii, 96762
United States

Alison Udall

Rebuilder for Peace

Alison Udall is a Nonprofit Executive, serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Rebuild for Peace, an organization that provides vocational, entrepreneurship, and peace-building training to refugees and at-risk youth in conflict-affected areas. In the last several years with Rebuild for Peace, Alison has been instrumental in establishing 15 learning centers in the Kingdom of Jordan for refugees and at-risk youth, graduating over 250 students in underserved areas. Alison has a Dual Bachelors in International Studies: Economic and Political Development and Spanish and a Masters in Human Rights Practice. She is currently a part of the Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery Program - Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma - through Harvard Medical School. Alison is committed to dedicating her life to assisting victims of trauma, affected by war and forced migration. Her focus centers on the intersection of economic development, human rights, and mental health.

Avegalio Failautusi

Breadfruit Advocate

From PBS: He is the Director of the Pacific Business Center Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. A twist of fate brought him from American Samoa to a Kansas teachers college. Dr. Tusi, as he’s known on campus at UH Manoa, went on to earn degrees in education and social science. At the Pacific Business Center, Dr. Tusi helps organizations bridge traditional Pacific Islander values and western thought.

Chad Ford

Peace Player Pro

Chad’s work has frequently taken him out of the classroom and into conflict zones around the world. He’s made nearly 50 trips to the Middle East and has worked on numerous other conflicts around the world as both a mediator and a facilitator. Chad has served as a senior consultant, speaker and facilitator for the Arbinger Institute since 2006 — working with governments, NGOs and corporations like Nike and the US Olympic team. He has used his expertise on both sports and conflict by serving as an executive board member of the non-profit peacebuilding organization PeacePlayers. His work has included designing the peacebuilding curriculum used by PeacePlayers in the Middle East, training thousands of coaches, staff and participants in workshops and most recently, guiding PeacePlayers through the process of creating the Friendship Games and PeacePlayers Leadership Academy that will bring together participants from conflict areas around the world.

Christopher Udall

Rebuilder for Peace

Udall is a graduate of BYU-Hawaii where he earned a degree in Cultural Communication and Peace Building with Anthropological honors and a certificate in Photography/Videography. He has also received a certificate from Oxford University in Social Entrepreneurship and one from Bain and Company’s affiliate +Acumen in Non-Profit Earned Income Innovation.He is the CEO and founder of the nonprofit Rebuild for Peace dedicated to building up rural economies in the Middle East in order to provide economic opportunities for youth being recruited by ISIS and Hesbala. During this time, he also coordinated the rebuilding of the ISIS attacked Al Karak Castle training and supporting his students in its restoration. Christopher has remained the CEO of Rebuild for Peace while he pursues his MBA at The University of Notre. During his MBA he focuses his studies on innovation and entrepreneurship along with strategy and sustainable development.

Isaiah Walker

Surfing Historian

Isaiah Walker was born and raised in Hilo. After graduating with a Bachelors in History from BYU Hawaiʻi in 1997 and earning a Master's degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Isaiah completed a PhD. from the UC- Santa Barbara. Isaiah studies Hawaiian history and colonialism from a unique perspective, from the vantage of Hawaiian surfers. Focusing primarily on a Hawaiian surfing club formed on the North Shore of O‘ahu in 1976, his dissertation analyzes the history of surfing, resistance, and masculinity in Hawai‘i. Contending that the ocean surfing realm was a sanctuary and borderland for Hawaiians, his research creatively analyzes a space where Hawaiians were empowered and colonial hierarchies were often turned upside down. He is currently revising his dissertation to be published in book form by the University of Hawaii press. He is currently a professor and department chair in the History Department at BYU-H where he teaches World, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islands history.

J Eston Dunn

Ecotourism Researcher

Growing up in the shadows of the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, Eston quickly became interested in the environment and how humans interact with their surroundings. His curiosity has taken him to the Teton Mountains where he taught children how to appreciate the outdoors and find meaningful connections through the Teton Science School. To New Mexico where he focused on the impact of humans in the desert and how to lessen the burden and Beaver, Utah where he taught teenagers how to survive off the the natural supplies provided by the Earth. Currently, his research is focused on ecotourism on Oahu and the impacts the industry has on the conservation focused island.

Jason Scott Earl

Social Enterprise Wizard

Not only a BYU-H business professor, Earl has conducted strategy and finance training for MBA students at Harvard Business School (HBS) as well as senior executives at General Electric (GE), Marvell, and Cooper Industries. His most recent research was nominated for the William H. Newman award at Academy of Management (AoM) based on the disruptive nature of online business simulations in management education today. Earl was hired by Exxon Mobil as a structural engineer. He completed his MBA in corporate finance at Tulane University. After, he moved to Southern California where he was Director of Strategic Planning & Finance at World Minerals Inc. Jason then went on to become President of StarStone, LLC. Jason recently finished his doctorate in business and his research involved the use of business simulations in corporate education. Jason enjoys researching disruptive innovations and loves to spend time traveling with his four boys, one daughter and wife, Natalie.

Natalie Norton

Local Photographer & Activist

Natalie is a fantastic photographer, podcaster of Letsshowup.com, and activist.

Richie Norton

Advocate & Entrepreneur

Richie Norton is the bestselling author of The Power of Starting Something Stupid as well as the #1 Amazon download Résumés Are Dead and What to Do About It. He is an international speaker and consultant for the corporate growth and personal development industries, a social entrepreneur, and CEO and Founder of Global Consulting Circle. Richie has been featured in Forbes, Businessweek, Young Entrepreneur, Huffington Post and other national publications both in print and online. The 2013 San Francisco Book Festival named The Power of Starting Something Stupid the winner of the business category and the grand prize winner of all book categories in its annual competition. In 2010, Pacific Business News recognized Richie as one of the Top Forty Under 40 “best and brightest young businessmen” in Hawaii.

Scott Asai

Introvert Whisperer

Scott Asai has been developing leaders for 20+ years through speaking, training and coaching. As the owner of Leadership Muscle he hosts a monthly speaker series with General Assembly and an online university. Scott’s background includes: a B.A. in Psychology, M.A. in Organizational Leadership, Certified Professional Coach & Certified Strengths Coach. His latest book, The Startup Church: Reaching Millennials Where Faith Meets Business, is available on Amazon. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, working out and going to Disneyland on a weekly basis.

Seamus Fitzgerald

Cultural Specialist

An avid rugby coach and Currently the Director of Talent management in the Polynesian Cultural Center. Seamus is of Māori and Irish decent born and raised in Turangi New Zealand. Tribal affiliations to Ngāti Kahungunu-ki-Wairarapa and Ngāi Tuhoe. Lectured at UH Manoa in the Pacific Island studies Major in Oral history and Literature, Performing arts, and Māori language. Currently an adjunct faculty in International Peace Building in Communities. Worked at PCC for over 20 years as a cultural specialist, Seamus has a vast understanding of folklore, protocols, and culture surrounding the Māori ceremonial Marae and meeting house along with Māori weaponry. He has tutored Māori performing arts groups and performances for over 25 years. Today Seamus will take us through the lenses that connects Pacific Island People to Mountains.