Meet you in the middle!

Hawaii provides the ideal location for ports on both sides of the Pacific Ocean to easily travel to one destination. Watch this site as we work on our agenda, including a balanced mix of presentations, panels, port updates (expanded this year!) plus networking opportunities and educational excursions.

3
Days
Lots!
Networking Opportunities
10
Presentations
Exciting
Companion Program

Agenda

Informative and engaging sessions balanced with networking and fun! Please note: as we finalize our agenda, some changes in times may be necessary. Please check back often!
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Off-site

Join your colleagues for an exclusive round of golf at the Oahu Country Club, one of Hawaii’s first and most prestigious member-only golf clubs. Hidden behind the tranquil mists of Nu’uanu valley and beset on all sides with towering and majestic green mountain faces, the property upon which the Club sits, otherwise known as Waolani, […]

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Maile Foyer

Check in, pick up your name tag and delegate bag…Registration opens on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 1:00 to 4:00 pm and will be open all day Thursday and Friday.

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Kainoa I

Association business

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Plumeria Ocean Grove

Your first opportunity to greet and network with all conference attendees.

7:00 am - 9:00 am Maile Foyer

Buffet breakfast to start the day.

8:00 am - 8:05 am Maile Ballroom

8:05 am - 8:35 am Maile Ballroom

Mario Cordero Chief Executive Officer
Port of Long Beach
8:35 am - 10:00 am Maile Ballroom

MARAD’s Gus Hein leads a panel discussion of Pacific Island port representatives to highlight activities, issues, challenges, and opportunities.

DreanaLee Kalili Deputy Director
Hawaii Department of Transportation
Gus Hein Mid-Pacific Gateway Director
U.S. Maritime Administration
Rory Respicio General Manager
Port Authority of Guam
10:00 am - 10:20 am Maile Foyer

10:20 am - 12:00 pm Maile Ballroom

An expanded session to allow both Port and Associate members to provide updates on activities, issues, and trends.

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Maile Foyer

1:00 pm - 1:40 pm Maile Ballroom

Focus on operation and maintenance, revenue/occupancy and major operational changes coming. Presented by Scott Grindy, President, Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers.

Scott Grindy President
Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers
1:40 pm - 2:20 pm Maile Ballroom

Discuss the importance of an integrated plan for “Last Mile Logistics” from ports to consumers post disaster.  Using examples from Hurricanes Maria and Milton we will show the ability to effectively move cargo out of the port is a challenge.  Resilience and Recovery is more than opening the port – it is getting food, water […]

Michael Legler Transportation Planner
Federal Emergency Management Agency
2:20 pm - 2:40 pm Maile Foyer

2:40 pm - 3:20 pm Maile Ballroom

Following on their very successful and well-received presentation from the 2024 Winter Conference, Mary Anne Rooney, Port of Hueneme, and Ruben Duran, BBK Law, carry on the discussion of port governance.

Mary Anne Rooney Commissioner, Oxnard Harbor District/The Port of Hueneme
Port of Hueneme
Ruben Duran Ontario Office Managing Partner
Best Best & Krieger LLP
3:20 pm - 4:00 pm Maile Ballroom

Hawaii’s ten commercial ports operate on a hub-and-spoke system with more than 90 percent of all goods coming through Honolulu Harbor. Honolulu’s three-stage modernization plan has been in effect for nearly 20 years, yet 1920s infrastructure built remains pervasive. Viewed as a case study in major long-term transformation when policy leaders operate on short term […]

Melissa Pavlicek Executive Director
Hawaii Public Policy Advocates, LLC
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Koko Head Ocean Lawn

7:00 am - 9:00 am Maile Foyer

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Off-site

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Maile Foyer

1:00 pm - 1:30 am Maile Ballroom

All are welcome.

1:30 pm - 2:10 pm Maile Ballroom

While it will still be early days into the Trump Administration, this panel will highlight anticipated and speculative changes that could be expected related to grants, electrification and decarbonization, budgets, and priorities, among other key decisions.

Derek Chow Business Development Manager,
Burns & McDonnell
Gus Hein Mid-Pacific Gateway Director
U.S. Maritime Administration
Jeannie Beckett Principal
The Beckett Group
Jeff Wingfield Deputy Port Director of Regulatory and Public Affairs
Port of Stockton
Michael Legler Transportation Planner
Federal Emergency Management Agency
2:10 pm - 2:40 pm Maile Ballroom

Details to follow…

Jason Chodachek South East Territory Manager
Vector Corrosion Technologies
2:40 pm - 3:00 pm Maile Foyer

3:00 pm - 3:40 pm Maile Ballroom

Jason Middleton, PNW Regional Manager, United Grain, speaks from the perspective of a port user on the importance of ports to international trade and its impact on the local economy. Looking specifically at the grain industry, Middleton will highlight how collaboration and close interaction with the Port of Umatilla provides much needed support for both […]

3:40 pm - 4:10 pm Maile Ballroom

Over the past few decades, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District (Corps) has issued hundreds of individual construction permits and numerous programmatic general permits for projects in or over marine waters in the state of Washington. The Corps is required, under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), to consult with National Oceanic and Atmospheric […]

Ryan Pessah Director of Government Relations
Western Wood Preservers Institute
4:10 pm - 4:20 pm Maile Ballroom

Following closing remarks, attendees will get a preview of the 111th Annual Conference, hosted by the Port of Nanaimo – August 10 to 13, 2025

Meet our amazing speakers

Jeannie Beckett
Principal The Beckett Group
Jason Chodachek
South East Territory Manager Vector Corrosion Technologies
Derek Chow
Business Development Manager, Burns & McDonnell
Mario Cordero
Chief Executive Officer Port of Long Beach
Ruben Duran
Ontario Office Managing Partner Best Best & Krieger LLP
Scott Grindy
President Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers
Gus Hein
Mid-Pacific Gateway Director U.S. Maritime Administration
DreanaLee Kalili
Deputy Director Hawaii Department of Transportation
Michael Legler
Transportation Planner Federal Emergency Management Agency
Melissa Pavlicek
Executive Director Hawaii Public Policy Advocates, LLC
Ryan Pessah
Director of Government Relations Western Wood Preservers Institute
Rory Respicio
General Manager Port Authority of Guam
Mary Anne Rooney
Commissioner, Oxnard Harbor District/The Port of Hueneme Port of Hueneme
Jeff Wingfield
Deputy Port Director of Regulatory and Public Affairs Port of Stockton

The Venue...

Kahala Resort

Honolulu, Hawaii

The Kahala Hotel & Resort is Oahu’s reigning luxury resort. Set on a secluded beach, this legendary hideaway in Honolulu’s plush Kahala district is a favorite with presidents, international royalty, and celebrities. From the moment you arrive, you will know you are somewhere truly special. Indulge in five-star service and timeless Hawaiian hospitality. We offer a complete resort experience. From the family getaway to the digital nomad, our tropical beach resort is built to suit your needs.

Testimonials from past conferences