Culture, Code, and Community: Navigating AI as POC
Artificial intelligence is transforming industries, economies, and culture at lightning speed. This Honolulu Tech Week panel spotlights people of color who are driving innovation and building connections between technology, creativity, and community. Panelists will explore representation in AI, cultural responsiveness, bias, education, and how emerging technologies can empower diverse communities.
What to Expect:
A dynamic panel discussion on bias, representation, opportunity, and cultural impact in AI
Stories of innovation in education, business, creativity, and AI stewardship
Audience Q&A and networking with attendees from a wide range of industries, backgrounds, and experiences
Meet the Panelists:
Leimomi Bong is a creative technologist, ʻŌiwi designer, and radio host who works at the intersection of culture, technology, and storytelling. As a Full Stack Developer at the Purple Maiʻa Foundation, she builds community-serving tools and experiences that honor Native Hawaiian knowledge systems while engaging with emerging tech. She brought her storytelling to public radio, founded the design consultancy Naeolokani, and spent eight years as COO of Aloha Got Soul, a vinyl-focused record label. Born in Kealakekua and based in Honolulu, she remains active in Hawaiʻi’s arts and music community, using design and media to keep local stories alive. Leimomi studied Linguistics, Languages, and Literature at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Vincent Brathwaite is a Caribbean-American product design leader based in Hawaii, driven by integrity, empathy, kindness, courage, and resilience. For over 20 years, he’s worked at the intersection of technology, design, and entrepreneurship, turning bold ideas into impactful products and experiences. As founder of Gidens, an AI small business assistant, he helps entrepreneurs reclaim their time to focus on growth, themselves, and their loved ones. Vincent has led global design programs at GitHub and InVision, delivered solutions for 250+ clients worldwide, and inspired audiences at events like Front Conference in Switzerland. He also teaches in the Graduate Interaction Design program at ArtCenter College of Design
Jennifer Moura is a data scientist, entrepreneur, and systems strategist with experience across startups and enterprises. At Hawaiʻi’s largest health payer, she built predictive models and analytics pipelines and serves on the AI Use Case Committee guiding enterprise adoption. She co-founded and profitably exited Aloha Mīkini, won Honolulu Tech Week’s 2024 Hackathon, and now leads Mayu Systems, an AI consulting company helping local businesses integrate responsible AI solutions. As a board member of Hawaiʻi Women in Tech, she helps members connect, learn, and thrive together. Across all her work, she champions Aloha Tech—a movement that centers humanity over technology and reminds us that AI should be shaped by all as a tool for reciprocity, belonging, and systems that truly serve people
Amy Benson is the founder and CEO of Afro Aloha, Hawaiʻi’s first Black membership social organization and a cultural hub for the Black diaspora across the islands. In a state where the Black community is under four percent of the population, she creates spaces for representation and belonging through art, adventure, culture, entrepreneurship, wellness, and more. Amy curates and produces signature events, including the DRIPNIQ Picnic Festival at Bishop Museum Lawn, Black is Art, the Hawaiʻi Black Entrepreneur Awards, and Honolulu Black Pride. She also hosts the Afro Aloha Podcast, streaming on KHON+, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio, to amplify local stories and connect community voices. Afro Aloha welcomes members and non-members, residents and visitors, with gatherings that celebrate heritage, history, and a shared future.
Gabriel Yanagihara is a Maui-born educator, author, AI consultant, and social media creator committed to making Hawaiʻi AI literate and AI powered. He teaches computer science, AI, game design, 3D printing, and fabrication at ʻIolani School, where he also coaches a state championship-winning Esports program. Gabriel has trained thousands of teachers through workshops, keynotes, and professional development sessions, helping schools and communities adopt AI responsibly and creatively. His mission is to prepare every student, teacher, and community in Hawaiʻi to thrive in an AI-driven world, ensuring that technology serves local values while empowering innovation and opportunity statewide.
Meet the Host/Moderator:
Evon Bradford, PMP is the Director and Board Secretary at the Hawaii Center for AI and moderator for our panel. A community technologist and advocate for equitable AI education, she leads outreach and learning programs that create inclusive pathways into AI literacy for Hawaiʻi’s diverse communities through events and partnerships. Evon provides 1:1 AI consultations to small business owners and has delivered GenAI presentations and workshops in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Office of Economic Revitalization, and Central Pacific Bank. She brings a cross-sector background in project management, television production, product development, UX research, and biometric data collection. Her production credits span Netflix, ABC, MTV, VH1, Style Network, Bravo, and Discovery.
Why Attend:
Hear powerful insights from those creating AI solutions, gain fresh perspectives on innovation, and connect with attendees from tech, business, education, and beyond. This is the conversation where community meets technology.
This event is a part of Honolulu Tech Week - a week of events that unifies Hawaii’s tech ecosystem and those connected to it globally.