Pac Rim 2009 Info
Keynote Speakers: Mayor Billy Kenoi of Hawai’i Island
Johnny Crescendo | Andrew J. Imparato | Lee Grossman | Billy Kenoi | Amber Smock
Monday May 4th, 2009: 9:00 AM -10:00 AM in Room 303B, on topic of Transition to Adulthood
"Follow Your Dreams An Essential Ingredient for Successful Transition to Adulthood"
The transition to adulthood can be a challenge for youth as they leave high school. For one thing, they will almost certainly need to make decisions and take responsibility for the outcomes to a much greater extent than they are used to. Many youth leave high school without knowing the direction they want to take, and where they end up heading may be a matter of just going with the flow of the people around them. By contrast, youth who have a dream and leave high school aiming to achieve it are much more likely to find success. For this to happen, however, may require adult guidance from an early age so they understand what reaching their dream really requires. Dreams seldom come true without effort and dedication. In this talk, Hilo Mayor William Billy Kenoi tells an inspirational story of how his own dream took him from the tiny town of Kalapana, where at one point he had a grade point average of 1.8, to earn a law degree and become Hilo’s youngest mayor ever.
Biography: Billy Kenoi
County of Hawai’i Mayor Billy Kenoi was recognized by Hawaii Business Magazine in 2007 as one of “25 people who will help shape Hawaii over the next 25 years.”
He obtained his Law Degree from UH Manoa’s William S. Richardson School of Law, and was Honolulu Deputy Public Defender in the District, Family, and Felony Trial Divisions. He went on to serve as Executive Assistant to Hawai’i County Mayor Harry Kim.
Billy was elected County of Hawai’i mayor in 2008 in his first run for public office.
He is a member of the Hawai’i State Bar Association. He is a board member with the Hawai’i Justice Foundation and the Hawai’i Island United Way. He coaches AYSO Soccer and teaches Administration of Justice at the Hawai’i Community College.
He has worked at the Legal Aid Society of Hawai’i, the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, the State Judiciary, and the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund as a volunteer.
