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HPU Startup Challenge participants Mika Mailani Chang (center) and Jenna Bond (right) with HPU Dean Amy Nguyen-Chyung at the 2026 East Meets West conference.
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HPU students at the East Meets West conference on April 9.
On Thursday, April 9, 2026, 12 undergraduate and graduate students university-wide and several Hawai’i Pacific University faculty, staff and alumni joined over 500 others to attend East Meets West (EMW), Hawaiʻi’s premier entrepreneurship and technology conference, to connect with local entrepreneurs, investors, and global thought leaders.
HPU alumnus and Trustee Ivan Sugai and HPU Dean Amy Nguyen-Chyung attended the Summit portion of the 2026 East Meets West conference.
Among those who attended were HPU Startup Challenge participants Mika Mailani Chang (PsyD ‘26) and Jenna Bond (MBA ’26) who both will be graduating in May. Chang shared that she felt inspired after being surrounded by established female entrepreneurs at the Women’s Breakfast. “It was a deeply personal reminder of the power of connection and vision. From creating my ‘Little Book of Spells’ at breakfast to learning about the future of technology and AI, I am walking away with a renewed sense of purpose. The insights I’ve gained will be directly integrated into my clinical practice and my work at Mindful Gallery.”
Bond reported that she found both a venture partner with aligned goals and an experienced startup mentor at the conference. “Attending East Meets West 2026 was one of the most meaningful experiences of my MBA program. Being in a room with founders, investors, and innovators who are actively shaping the future - not theorizing about it – grounded me in a way that’s hard to get from a classroom alone. I left with new connections, a sharper perspective, and a fire I didn’t expect. It genuinely empowered me and quite literally changed the course of my life.”
Annika Hakovirta shared her thoughts on Chris Yeh’s speech on the future of AI, noting it was especially relevant as she prepares to enter the workforce. She said, “Rather than seeing it [artificial intelligence] as a threat, I am taking it as a challenge. Now is one of the best times to come up with creative ideas and one of the easiest times in history to execute them. Those who approach AI as something to simply seek answers from will not succeed. It is a tool that can be used in many productive ways, but it needs to be learned and understood.”
Victoria Adler reflected on Ted Bannerman’s talk. “I also really enjoyed Ted Bannerman’s talk and his insights about integrating cultural or ‘human’ aspects into AI to create products that are accepted globally. I thought the example of Klarna moving toward 100% AI customer service chatbots was an excellent example of how efficiency is not always the main priority, and that cultural practices associated with customer service need to be considered for a product to succeed.”
Nursing student Sonny Corleone Delos Santos posted on Linkedin, “What a privilege it was to attend the East Meets West 2026 Conference. Mahalo Nui to Hawai’i Pacific University for the opportunity to be part of such a remarkable gathering of minds. The experience was nothing short of transformative – from the thought-provoking sessions to the connections forged with brilliant professionals.”
Students were invited to apply to attend through the John F. Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway, which has brought many new activities and opportunities to HPU students. While many opportunities are shared with all students, students should be sure to sign up for the mailing list to ensure they receive alerts.
Paul Gene, HPU adjunct faculty member and Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway Entrepreneur in Residence, said, “I found the presentations and the Startup Pitch Competition to be incredibly inspiring.”
Ivan Sugai, HPU alum and Trustee, spoke about the implications for HPU, stating, “This is absolutely the kind of engagement I love seeing with HPU, especially in Tech—a special place in my heart! Going forward, I am excited to see HPU's participation with Hawaii Tech Week.” Both Sugai and Dean Nguyen-Chyung attended the Summit portion of the conference, which started on the previous day.
Organizers announced that the next EMW Conference will become part of Hawaiʻi Tech Week, founded by Michael Bennett. Hawaiʻi Tech Week will take place again this fall beginning August 31, 2026.
