Future of Work Panel Discussion (Gen Z)
An honest panel discussion from the next generation, led by Kawika Naweli, Gidens software developer intern and University of Hawaii at Manoa computer science student. The panel puts a spotlight on the students who are actively navigating what it means to launch a tech career in the age of AI, and what Hawaii's tech community needs to do to keep them here.
The panel features Kawika, Lenox Convington, and Miles Cobb Dumlao. Fellow student technologists discussing how the field has changed, how AI reshaped the way they learn, compete, and think about their careers, and what Hawaii needs to do to keep its best young talent building locally.
The event closes with networking and mentorship: open conversations connecting students with industry leaders about internships, mentorship, and building tech careers in Hawaii.
Hawaii has a talent pipeline problem. The students who could build the next great technology companies here are leaving, because the opportunities, the mentorship, and the visibility are not here yet. This panel is part of changing that.
About Kawika Naweli:
Kawika Naweli is an Software Developer Intern at Gidens and a Computer Science major at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Raised in Nanakuli, Hawaii, his passion sits at the intersection of CS and machine learning, with a singular focus: leveraging technology to provide for the community.
At Gidens, Kawika works alongside the engineering team building Gidget, the AI workflow intelligence platform. He represents a new generation of Hawaii technologists: students who grew up with AI, who had to adjust how they started and continue to stay competitive by embracing it, and who are choosing to build for their home community rather than leave for the mainland.
Kawika's story is not just his own. It is the story of every Hawaii student trying to build a career in tech without having to leave the place they love.
Who's in the Room:
University students studying CS, data science, and engineering
Recent graduates navigating early tech careers
CTOs, engineering managers, and technical leaders looking for local talent
Educators, professors, and academic leaders
Hawaii-based founders who want to hire locally
Community organizations focused on STEM and workforce development
Investors and ecosystem builders who believe in Hawaii's talent pipeline
Takeaways:
A firsthand look at how AI has reshaped the path into tech for students: how they learn, how they compete, and how they think about their careers differently than previous generations
Understanding of what Hawaii needs to do to retain its best young talent rather than losing them to the mainland
Direct connections between students and industry leaders for internships, mentorship, and hiring opportunities
Proof that the model works: Kawika's internship at Gidens is a living example of what is possible when a local startup invests in local talent
Perspective on what it means to be a Gen Z technologist building for your home community in a field that changes every semester