Talks

Congratulations! To our speakers for participating in TEDxLihue November 20 2022

A majority of talks have been uploaded to TEDx international website and are reaching people throughout the world!

Thank you to our local community and audience and all our sponsors, Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay, Zonta Kauai, Aloha Construction KKCR, Guardian Self-Storage, EYES WIDE OPEN Multimedia Outreach, Conscious10x MTE Come Together Wellness, Gina Mello, Oceanfront Sotheby’s International Realty, Wai Ola, FILM KAUAI

Thank you also to individual sponsors Kay & George Mones, Dorothy Yung Foundation, Sarah Herring & Sandra Anthis. Mahalo nui to our team of volunteers who without their help this event would not have been nearly as successful. Sarah Herring, writer/editor/social media, Gabriela Gonzalez social media, Chanterelle Chantara, harpist and vocal musician who entertained in the opening and intermissions while guest mingled, catering from Nina’s Thai Food, Volunteers staff Anne Eulalio, Bhavana Chawla, Kristina Rollins, Moria Glaus, Lynn Ablondi, Co-organizer Jennifer Veeck with junior assistant and daughter Pualei Veeck. We were also honored to have Kauai’s musical legend, Uncle Larry Rivera & his wife Gloria, in attendance watching their Granddaughter Patricia Westinhausen give her talk on our TEDxLihue Stage.

Mahalo Nui

Jennifer Schwartz Bell-Grey
TEDxLihue Organizer

KA MAMA IKE | Puna Kalama Dawson | TEDxLihue

Keikilaniwahinealiiopuna (Puna) lives on Kaua’i, Hawai’i. As record keeper of Hawaiian culture and history, she is an internationally honored elder of the Hawaiian Islands. Her family-roots take her far back in time. Her direct ancestors are found in the royal family of the time of the Hawaiian kingdom, as well as in the lineages of the hula masters Kumu Puna’s talk is on traditional practice of the breath and the translation of the word Hawai’i. “Ha – waii” explained literally is “Man who is kind”. Kumu Puna shows how the true understanding of who you are, where you are, why you are, has the potential to offer a powerful foundation for our communities.

THE POWER OF ALOHA | Sabra Kauka | TEDxLihue

Her knowledge and care for the environment and perpetuation of Native Hawaiian traditions made Kumu Sabra Kauka a respected cultural leader of the community. She serves as kumu of Hawaiian studies and hula at Island School and as the coordinator of Hawaiian Studies on Kauai for the Department of Education. Kumu Sabra’s talk is about ‘Living Aloha’ and application of the Power of Positive Thinking from a traditional Hawaiian approach.

SYSTEMS THAT MAKE SENSE - WAI OLA (WATER OF LIFE SPRINGS) | Mahinanani Laughlin | TEDxLihue

Mahinanani’s passion for Mother Earth and her experience as a soul explorer shares a method of “Positive Thinking” from Hawaiian culture. The concept is referred to as “Systems That Make Sense”. Her talk is conjures vivid imagery using Hawaiian folklore to tell the tale of who we are and how we came to be.

DESTIGMATIZING THE ACT OF BEING YOURSELF | Patricia Wistinghausen | TEDxLihue

Through a personal journey of scrutinizing one’s beliefs of mental illness, Patricia Wistinghausen has become an advocate for the transformational perspective of “Destigmatizing the Act of Being Yourself” – which means shifting our perspective about ourself and others suffering from mental illness. She offers a framework based on ‘Hope, Help, and Healing’, ultimately encouraging other to get help, take time to connect with what matters to them, and find ways to communicate their stories, so that others may relate and find their own reconciliation with stigma, and in turn help others do the same.

HOW I ARRIVED AT NU'ULOPA | Meryl Abrams | TEDxLihue

An experience of near-drowning gave Meryl Abrams an insight into the power of the human psyche to either sink or swim in stressful situations. With grit, determination, and positive thinking, Meryl saves herself and finds herself on Nu’ulopa – a small uninhabited island in the Apolima Straight between the island of Upolu and Savai’i in Samoa.

HOW PAC-MAN CAN CONQUER CANCER | Elisa Audo-Beliov | TEDxLihue

Elisa shares her firsthand experiences of how the term “cancer” can negatively impact people. She explores the historical usage of the term, and hints at promising treatments in the field of immunotherapy. Ultimately, she proposes two unique ideas she hopes may change our view of cancer and bring the dialog into the 21st century. Dr. Audo-Beliov seeks to bring a message of normalcy and hope to people navigating cancer. Her goal is to create a movement to rename, reclaim, and reframe cancer in order to help people step out of fear so we can focus on healing and thriving.

SPLASH AND FIND THE FUN | Rachel Secretario | TEDxLihue

In her formative years, thirsty for opportunities to immerse in cross-cultural dialogue, Rachel sought experiences studying abroad in Germany, Japan and South Africa, giving her invaluable insights into her own processes for using positivity and humor to thrive in difficult situations. Using humor as a buoyancy agent, Rachel has found ways in working to build resiliency in the youth that she is on the frontlines with, helping her home community of Kaua’i work through adversity, building skills and tools for wellness – insisting that fun be at the heart of it all.

EATING DISORDERS AND FEMALE ATHLETES - RE-CALIBRATING OUR THOUGHTS | Amanda Blackwell | TEDxLihue

As a former competitive figure skater, Amanda dealt with a lot of pressure when it came to her body and having to look a certain way to “fit the mold”. With the idea that she had to look a certain way to be successful, she found herself in a battle with an eating disorder. Amanda shares personal story of recovery, and her discovery that a change in her thinking was the most effective way of being at peace with her body. By reframing her thoughts, she was able to come to value herself and offer her story so that others may also come to love and accept themselves (and their bodies) wholeheartedly and with compassion.

The Super Power of Science | Brittni Friedlander | TEDxLihue

Capturing the Miss Philippines Hawaii title, using science as her talent, Brittni offers first hand experience of her trailblazing efforts in merging creative and analytic thinking to help solve some of the most complex problems of the 21 st century. Encouraging others to call on their own ‘superpower’, Brittni leads by example in her willingness to move past fear of failure into a future that includes more female representation in impactful careers that leverage the power of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

BRINGING INTENTIONAL JOY INTO LIFE | Kasey Baltz | TEDxLihue

Passionate about storytelling and inspiring others to follow their ‘inner compass’ of joy and intuition, Kasey offers a roadmap for shifting one’s day to day life to hone-in on increased curiosity, joy, and intentionality. Encouraging us to tap into the wonder and freedom of childlike joy, Kasey shares skills that help us realign with what sparks us. Through her personal journeys, Kasey weaves her storytelling into a compelling case for altering the direction of our lives: aiming us on our own personal journey of fulfillment which can not only benefit ourselves and our communities, but also our planet.