Welcome
Building capacity for digital governance in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific
Stay tuned as we plan our first event for this September 2026 as part of Hawaiʻi Tech Week
Topics of Interest
Here are some of the topics we will cover at the upcomoing HiSIG in September
State of the Internet
The Internet is one of the most transformative innovations in human history. By democratizing access to information, the Internet has revolutionized how we exchange ideas, conduct business, and connect with others. Indeed, the Internet has become the lifeblood of our global society.
Understanding Internet Governance
Review the basic concepts of Internet governance, its stakeholders, and the fundamental principles guiding its development. Does the term Internet Governance encompass all that is should?
The Multistakeholder Model
The concept used in Internet Governance is widely known as the Multistakeholder Model is second nature to many folks especially those involved with ICANN and ISOC. This session will provide the historical context of the term and its evolution as the de facto standard used by some Internet organizations.
Indigenous Knowledge in the Digital Age
In the digital age, Indigenous Knowledge is no longer just ancestral heritage; it is a vital pillar of data sovereignty. As AI evolves, the focus shifts toward “Sovereign AI”, ensuring Indigenous communities control how their traditional wisdom is digitized, protected, and utilized, preventing extraction while fostering innovation that respects cultural protocols and self-determination.
Digital Literacy and Inclusive Internet Access
At a time when the world is accelerating towards an increasingly digital future, it is paramount to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their socio-economic background, has access to the Internet and the skills to navigate it effectively.
Trust, Safety and Risk in a Connected AI World
This panel explores how trust is built and broken in a world where AI systems are increasingly networked across devices, platforms, and critical services. We’ll highlight the upside of connected AI through better personalization, faster decisions, and improved accessibility. This alongside real tradeoffs like expanded attack surfaces, privacy leakage, bias and unequal impacts at scale, and cascading failures when one component goes wrong. Panelists will discuss practical approaches to safety and risk management, including secure-by-design architectures, human oversight, transparency and auditability, governance and compliance, and incident response strategies that keep innovation moving without eroding public confidence.