Hawaiʻi Wildfire Summit

Pathway 1: Community Resilience, Land Stewardship, Policy - Keauhou II

8:00 - 8:15 AM Welcome

Presenter: Nani Barretto (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization)

8:15 - 9:45 AM Understanding Wildfire & Assessing Risk Across Scales 

Presenters: Nani Barretto (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization); Mike Zupko (Wildland Fire Leadership Council); Kimiko Barrett (Headwaters Economics)

Panelists: Doug Green (Headwaters Economics); Keith Smith (National Association of State Foresters); Plus above presenters

Moderator: Heather Forester (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization)

This session situates Hawaiʻi’s wildfire risk within national and regional frameworks, covering fire history, trends, and key strategies like the National Cohesive Strategy and Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission findings. A panel will explore practical tools for assessing risk—from home to national scales—highlighting challenges, opportunities, and ways to integrate resources across sectors.

9:45 - 10:00 AM Break

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Tools & Practices for Wildfire-Resilient Land Management

Presenters: Mark Thorne (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, CTAHR & HWMO Board); Yumi Kam (Wai’anae Mountains Watershed Partnership)

Panelists: Cheyenne Perry (Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance); Chris Brosius (Mauna Kahalawai Watershed Partnership); Dan Eisenberg (East Maui Watershed Partnership)

Moderator: Yumi Kam (Wai'anae Mountains Watershed Partnership)

Land management is crucial for reducing wildfire risk and protecting Hawaiʻi's watersheds. This session explores grazing and watershed restoration strategies, sharing practical instruction, insights and lessons on fire mitigation, conservation, and community involvement for resilient landscapes.

12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch – Bentos provided by us!

1:00 - 2:45 PM Advancing Fire Adapted Communities

Presenters: Tiernan Doyle (Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network)

Panelists: Nani Barretto (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization); Dana Aina (Waikoloa Village Firewise Community Leader & Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization); Megan Fitzgerald-McGowan (National Fire Protection Association); Richard Hoke (Department of Hawaiian Homelands)

Moderators: Tiernan Doyle (Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network), Nani Barretto (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization) 

This session delves into the system components that shape Fire Adapted Communities. You'll participate in an interactive workshop to learn, plan, and explore these elements, followed by a panel discussion on sustaining community engagement.

2:45 - 3:00 PM Break

3:00 - 3:30 PM Funding & Policy From National to Local 

Presenters: Elizabeth Pickett (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization); Denise Antolini (Governor’s Climate Advisory Team & University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Richardson School of Law)

Moderator: Heather Forester (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization)

This session reviews wildfire funding opportunities and the Governor’s Climate Advisory Team’s resilience policy recommendations for Hawaiʻi.

3:30 - 4:15 PM Voices on Fire: Communicating & Advocating for Wildfire Solutions

Panelists: Dan Dennison (Hawai'i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources & HWMO Board); Mike Zupko (Wildland Fire Leadership Council); Thomas Heaton (Honolulu Civil Beat); Denise Antolini (Governor’s Climate Advisory Team & University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Richardson School of Law)

Moderator: Elizabeth Pickett (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization)

Join wildfire, advocacy, and media professionals as they share insights on communicating about risk and resilience. Learn from their extensive experience in communications and advocacy to enhance your own efforts in promoting effective wildfire solutions.

4:15 - 4:30 PM Wrap-Up Pathway 1

Moderator: Nani Barretto (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization)

Pathway 2: Fire and Emergency Services - Keauhou I

8:00 - 8:15 AM Introduction and Warm-up

Presenter: Elizabeth Pickett (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization)

8:15 - 9:45 AM Topic 1: Fire Weather & Fuel Monitoring

Presenters: Drew Smith (County of Los Angeles Fire Department)

Panelists: Mike Walker (Division of Forestry and Wildlife); Derek Wroe (National Weather Service); Colton Ching, (Hawaiian Electric Company); Eric Johnson (Dept of Interior; US Fish & Wildlife Service)

Sharing of Resources: Nathan Todaro (National Weather Service); Kevin Osborne (USDA Forest; Northern California Geographic Area Coord. Center); Clay Trauernicht (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, CTAHR)

Moderator: Derek Alkonis (Fire Safety Research Council); Elizabeth Pickett (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization)

This session reviews best practices for monitoring fire weather and fuel conditions and converting forecasts into actionable strategies. It is designed for emergency management, fire service, and those with response responsibilities, exploring methods to proactively adjust operations ahead of significant wind, weather, or fire events.

9:45 - 10:00 AM Break

10:00 - 11:40 AM Topic 2: Wildfire Pre-Attack Plans

Presenters: Elizabeth Pickett (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization); Keith Smith (National Association of State Foresters); Drew Smith (County of Los Angeles Fire Department)

Panelists: Greg Funderburk (Dept. of Interior; National Park Service) ; Steve Bergfeld (Division of Forestry and Wildlife); Keith Ito (Honolulu Fire Department)

Moderator: Derek Alkonis (Fire Safety Research Institute)

This session covers wildfire pre-attack and proactive fire plans for high-risk areas, helping emergency management professionals and fire service leaders anticipate and mitigate risks. It also prepares strategies for suppression response needs and actions during an event.

11:40 AM - 12:00 PM Sponsor Presentations

Presenters: Wildfire Water Solutions; Perimeter Solutions

Moderator: Katie Lighthall (Wildland Fire Leadership Council)

12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch – Bentos provided by us!

1:00 - 2:45 PM Topic 3: Incident Management Best Practices 

Presenters: Drew Smith (County of Los Angeles Fire Department); Gary Hudson, Solomon Kanoho & Patrick Porter (Kauai Incident Management Team)

Agency Share-outs: Any interested agencies or organizations

Moderator: Derek Alkonis (Fire Safety Research Institute)

This session explores incident management best practices to help emergency management professionals and fire service leaders optimize coordination and decision-making during critical events. Participants will learn proven strategies for resource allocation, communication, and response planning to effectively mitigate incident impacts.

2:45 - 3:00 PM Break

3:00 - 4:15 PM Topic 4: Codes & Standards

Presenters: Steve Kerber (Fire Safety Research Institute); Doug Green (Headwaters Economics); Karl Fippinger (International Code Council); Gary Honold (National Fire Protection Association

Moderator: Steve Kerber (Fire Safety Research Institute)

This session reviews codes and standards designed to reduce wildfire risk and enhance mitigation efforts. It provides emergency management professionals, fire service leaders, planners, and government officials with insights into effective risk reduction strategies and compliance frameworks.

4:15 - 4:30 PM Wrap-Up Pathway 2

Moderators: Katie Lighthall (Wildland Fire Leadership Council) & Elizabeth Pickett (Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization)