Kauaʻi opens registration for youth summit on leadership, careers

Kauaʻi high school students can now sign up for a free summit in Līhuʻe that is designed to give them more than a motivational morning. The 2026 Ka Pewa Youth Summit - Kupu Kelakela will bring interactive discussions, career exploration and direct access to local leaders at a time when the county is trying to keep more young people connected to island opportunities.

The summit is set for Tuesday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kauaʻi War Memorial Convention Hall, with more than 200 students expected. The County of Kauaʻi is serving as presenting sponsor, and officials say space is limited, making early registration important for high school students across the county.

County leaders say the event is being shaped by the students it is meant to serve. It is the second of its kind in Hawaiʻi and was planned and executed with student interns from Kauaʻi and Maui. Youth organizers said the summit is being built “with youth, not just for youth,” while Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami said young people are “leaders right now” and that listening to youth helps build stronger communities and more responsive leadership.

The summit’s programming is built around practical next steps. Breakout sessions will cover substance abuse prevention, workforce development, financial literacy, healthcare careers, mental health and wellness, and environmental stewardship. A resource fair will connect students with local employers, financial institutions and service providers, giving participants a chance to ask questions and build contacts before graduation.

A newly launched Ka Pewa Youth Pulse Survey is also steering the agenda, with students’ responses directly informing the summit’s programming, breakout sessions and resource fair offerings. Youth leads from the Kupu Kelakela Kauaʻi Internship Program and Maui Nui Hui Interns are curating the day, reinforcing the county’s effort to put students at the center of the planning.

The summit also fits into a broader county push to build an economy that does not rely only on tourism. Kauaʻi’s 2022-2026 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy focuses on diversification and on industry clusters that include food and agriculture, renewable energy and sustainable technologies, science and technology, visitor industry management and preservation, health and wellness, and arts and culture.

The Kauaʻi War Memorial Convention Hall, which the county says is often booked up to a year in advance, will host the event in a venue that includes an auditorium, special events and exhibit hall, kitchen, conference room and board meeting room. Sponsorships remain available through the Kauaʻi Economic Development Board to support youth programming, meals, materials and event logistics, underscoring the county’s bet that the summit can turn local talent into local leadership.