The sixth annual Unconferenz is four days away, but it’s not too late to register!

The Unconferenz is a unique local gathering of technologists, thinkers, teachers, creatives, entrepreneurs… people from all walks of life looking to share, learn, and collaborate. Instead of keynote speakers and sponsor-filled pitches disguised as panels, the attendees drive the agenda, and everyone has the opportunity to speak. You can check out the most popular session topic suggestions, and submit your own.

And while the final list of topics won’t be set until ten minutes before the first sessions begin, the current top vote getter is “Makerspaces unite! Let’s do a Maker Faire in Hawaii!” It’s fair to say the maker movement will be one of the highlights this year.

We’re fortunate to have members of HiCapacity, the Honolulu Makerspace, joining us, including co-founder and long-time Unconferenz collaborator Jason Axelson. But this will be a maker confab that’s statewide in scope. Coming in from Maui, Jerry Isdale (@MauiMaker) of Maui Makers will represent the Valley Isle. And Don Kosak from the Big Island will also be there. Don is not only a maker, but a managing partner of the Nalukai Foundation.

(Startups and venture accelerators are also likely topics at Unconferenz.)

If you’re a maker, just maker curious, or simply want to spend a day with interesting, innovative people, be sure to join us at Windward Community College on Saturday.

Photo of Jerry Isdale by Phillip Burgess on Flickr.

The date for Unconferenz 2013 is set. Mark your calendar:

Date: Saturday, March 2, 2013
Time: 8:00am to 4:00pm
Place: TBD

As soon as the location is confirmed I will let everyone know. I am just working out the details. If things work out we will have a very cool place to hold the Ignite STEM presentations.

The session topics page is open for your suggestions. Feel free to add a topic and vote for the ones you want to participate in.

Unconferenz 2012 was the 5th in an annual series that started in 2008. After 5 years we’ve managed to keep the event going without big overhead and have remained grassroots, participant driven. The unique quality of the Unconferenz is that it is reflective of the times. Participants generate the session topics and represent what is of interest or pressing. This year we had sessions like Social Innovation, Design Thinking, Hawaii Innovation Alliance, Co-Working Summit, Makerspace/Hackerspace, Gadgets, Code for America, Broadband Initiative, Social Media, Infographics, 3D Printing, iPhone/Android programming and others. To top off the event added a new feature, the Ignite session.

I am in the process of gathering the notes from each of the sessions and posting them. We hope to also have the video from each of the Ignite talks from Ignite Honolulu 3 at Unconferenz 2012.

In the meantime here are the great posts and associated content generated from the event:

• Another Unforgettable Unconferenz (Ryan Ozawa, HawaiiWeblog)
• Unconferenz 2012 video (Ryan Ozawa)
• Highlights from Unconferenz 2012 (Greg Yamane, PulpConnection)
• #UNZ12, Unconferenz Highlights (Bobby Lambrix, Media Council)
• Vitality of Honolulu Tech Visible at Unconferenz (Civil Beat)
• Crowds gather at KCC to brainstorm ideas for City (KHON2)
• Photos on Flickr by hawaii, bytemarks, madmarv, geewhy
• Tim O’Reilly on Desktop App Stores and Open Source (Todd Ogasawara)
• Tweetstream #UNZ12 (Collected tweets from the event)
• Code for America Session (Ustream.tv, Ryan Ozawa)
• Ignite Honolulu 3 (Ustream.tv recording, Ryan Ozawa)

The Unconferenz 2012, I must say, was a wonderful event. The sessions were not only timely but lively conversations that I hope will continue long after the Unconferenz. We had sessions that focused on Social Innovation, the Hawaii Innovation Alliance, Code for America, Hawaii’s Broadband Initiative, Design Thinking and many more. This was also the first Unconferenz where we held an Ignite session, Ignite Honolulu 3.

I must also send out BIG Mahalos to several people for without their assistance and support the Unconferenz would not have happened. Thanks go out to:

• Kapi’olani Community College
• Mary Hattori – Center of Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Technology – Kapi’olani Community College
• Joan and Glenn Matsukawa – Food, beverages, supplies
• Kristi Mercado – Note taking
• Joseph Cantos – Note taking
• Llewellyn Wailehua – Note taking
• Jessica Lum – Note taking, IT Support
• Melissa Lum – Note taking, IT Supoprt
• Shanisse Imamoto – Note taking
• Mark Nagai- IT support and A/V
• Jerleen Bahm – Note taking
• Ellen Ercegovich – Note taking
• Cassie and Brandon Teshima – Desserts
• Ryan Ozawa – Ignite Honolulu 3 coordination, event support and all around great guy
• Jerome Koehler and Capsun Poe – Registration
• Chistine Koroki and Chris Ota – Ignite Honolulu 3
• Jen Pahlka and Tim O’Reilly – Code for America participation
• Kiman Wong – Oceanic
• Yuka Nagashima – High Tech Development Corp.
• Gordon Bruce and Forest Frizzell – City & County of Honolulu

Stay tune to for more notes, photos and videos from the Unconferenz 2012. I want to thank you all for being a part of this year’s Unconferenz and for making it a great success. Let’s take the energy generated at here and continue to make Hawaii a better place.

Thank you for registering and participating in tomorrow’s Unconferenz!

Now in its fifth year, the Unconferenz has built a strong history of
bringing together a diverse group of geeks, coders, designers,
entrepreneurs, thinkers, and simply curious people to share, learn,
create, and look ahead. It’s been where the earliest seeds were
planted for many great things that have grown into positive, tangible
things in our community, from inspiring podcasters and media makers,
to sparking what is now a growing “design thinking” movement, to
fueling the coworking movement that today finds several great creative
spaces where just last year there were none.

Continue reading »

Thanks to Susan Jaworowski for creating this map of KCC, highlighting the location of Iliahi, location of this year’s Unconferenz. This will hopefully save you from wondering around campus trying to find us.

Also it is best to park in Lot A in the upper campus to avoid the Farmers Market. Please pass the word along. Mahalo!