About Town 1-7

Kona-Kohala Chamber kicks off new year with economic summit

The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the County of Hawaii’s Department of Research and Development, presents “Hawaii Island Economic Summit 2012 — Expanding Our Horizons” Friday at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.

This daylong business event is 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost to attend is $75, which includes continental breakfast, lunch, breaks and networking opportunities.

The summit’s morning panel “conversation” is comprised of five to six guest thinkers and leaders who will discuss their work, ideas that inspire them and what they see as the future for Hawaii Island. Confirmed speakers are Earl Bakken, engineer, businessman and philanthropist; Billy Kenoi, mayor, County of Hawaii; Robert Pacheco, president and naturalist guide, Hawaii Forest & Trail; Sanjeev Bhagowalia, chief information officer for the newly created Hawaii State Office of Information Management and Technology; and Michele Saito, president of Farmer’s Insurance Hawaii. Guest moderator for the panel will be Steve Petranick, editor of Hawaii Business magazine.

The luncheon keynote speaker, Eric Saperston, is an acclaimed film director and producer, successful author and award-winning speaker and storyteller. Saperston is chief creative officer for Live in Wonder Entertainment, a forward thinking lifestyle brand on the cutting edge of communication to ignite, inspire and enliven the world.

Afternoon facilitated break-out sessions are dedicated to drafting ideas and strategies that can expand the island’s economic horizons and be developed into implementation plans.

“The Chamber sees this meeting as the first step in a process that will evolve and grow,” said Vivian Landrum, president/CEO of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. “But we need the input of our island community to start the conversation and expand our horizons.

“I invite the island’s community leaders, entrepreneurs, independent business owners, policymakers, economic development professionals and those who simply want to see things change and are willing to join the conversation to join the Chamber on Jan. 13,” Landrum said. “By coming together, we can explore possibilities, foster debate and initiate strategies. Don’t miss out on this conversation.”

To register for the event, visit kona-kohala.com or call the Chamber at 329-1758.

The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce provides leadership and advocacy for a successful business environment in West Hawaii. The result of KKCC’s work is a community of choice as reflected in our quality of life, business and individual opportunity and manifest respect for our culture and our natural resources.

For more information, call 329-1758 or visit kona-kohala.com.

Korean War vets slated to meet Jan. 14

There will be a meeting of the Korean War Veterans Association of West Hawaii Chapter 279 at 10 a.m. Jan. 14 at Denny’s Restaurant, 75-1027 Henry St., Kailua-Kona.

Membership is open to anyone who has seen honorable service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States, defined as Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard if said service was within Korea, including territorial waters and airspace at any time Sept. 3, 1945, to the present, or said service was outside of Korea June 25, 1950, to Jan. 31, 1955. Associate members are also welcome.

For more information, call president Joe Nimori at 329 3058 or Bob Welter, 929 7001.

Forensic genetics expert to speak at Tutu’s House

Greg Hampikian will present “How DNA Evidence Freed Amanda Knox” at 6 p.m. Friday at Tutu’s House. Hampikian’s DNA laboratory was part of the defense team that helped free Knox from prison in Italy. Hampikian’s laboratory conducted experiments, which cast doubt upon the evidence, and formed the basis of the appeal, which eventually freed Knox and her boyfriend, Rafaelle Sollicito.

Hampikian is a professor at Boise State University with a joint appointment in biology and criminal justice. He consults on court cases throughout the United States and Europe, and has held research and teaching positions at the Yale University Medical School, Emory University, La Trobe University in Australia, Clayton State University and the CDC. A popular presenter, Hampikian is a frequent keynote speaker at national conferences, and also offers programs for schools, universities, professional and civic organizations. His laboratory at BSU is involved in a wide array of DNA projects in the areas of forensic biotechnology, mitochondrial population studies, drug development and bioinformatics.

Hampikian is the founder and director of the Idaho Innocence Project at BSU, and he works with police agencies and defense lawyers on DNA cases throughout the U.S., Ireland, the U.K., Italy and France. His work has helped in 10 exonerations (including Amanda Knox). In four of those exonerations, new DNA testing led to criminal database matches.

Hampikian’s work has been published in leading scientific journals such as Nature, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Science and Justice and the American Journal of Physical Anthropology. He has offered DNA workshops and seminars at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Harvard University and the Pasteur Institute. CNN, the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Fox News, 20/20, Nightline, Good Morning America, Science and New Scientist among others, have covered Hampikian’s research and outreach activities.

The talk is designed for a lay audience, but participants should be aware that language and images such as those shown on television crime shows will be used.

There are no fees for Tutu’s House programs, but tax-deductible donations are always welcome. Please call 885-6777 to register to attend this presentation. Tutu’s House is a project of Friends of the Future, a Waimea-based nonprofit organization.

Academic plan focus of Kealakehe High meeting

Kealakehe High School’s Community Council will meet from 5:15 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the school’s staff cafeteria dining room (southwest corner — makai). This is a change in the regular scheduled meeting.

Agenda items include: Approval of the school’s 2012-2013 academic and financial plan; and continued discussion on request for funding by SCC “special projects monies.”

Parents, students and community members are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information or questions, contact Linda Jeffrey, Parent-Community Center (327-4300, ext. 2432).