BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260120T190000Z DTEND:20260120T210000Z X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE SUMMARY:Chamber Weeks 2026: From Hawaii to the Hill: Legislative 201 & Federal Policy Update presented by Zippy's DESCRIPTION:Aloha! Registration has closed but walk-ins will be available. For any questions\, please reach out to Marisa Escalante at mescalante@cochawaii.org. Mahalo! \n\n\n\nChamber Week(s) presented by Alaska Airlines & Hawaiian Airlines is a multi-week series of events and programming that coincides with the opening of the Hawaii State Legislature to connect members and the business community with legislators and engage them in the legislative process. \n\n\n\nFrom Hawaii to the Hill: Legislative 201 & Federal Update allows you to hear from experts on 2026 legislation that will impact the business community including Jennings Imel\, Executive Director\, Western Region\, U.S. Chamber of Commerce\, Tonga Hopoi\, Vice President\, Policy and Public Affairs\, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii\, and other special guests.\n\n \n\nThis informative session will kick-off with a Legislative 201 presentation by Tonga Hopoi. This session goes beyond "how a bill becomes law" and explores the deeper strategies behind legislative engagement\, including the Chamber's legislative 2026 priorities\, how to build relationships with legislators\, provide impactful testimony\, and navigate committee hearings. Learn practical tools for monitoring legislation in real time\, understanding political dynamics\, and information on the Chamber's legislative packet for 2026.\n\n\n\nFollowed by Jennings Imel for a Federal Outlook update on topics including trade\, infrastructure\, immigration and other key issues from the federal level and current administration. \n\n\n\nComplimentary for Chamber members. Registration includes coffee and pastries.\n\n\n\nMarketing opportunities are available to promote your company during Chamber Week. Please click here for more information.\n\n\n\nCLICK HERE to watch our 2025 PSA to learn more about Chamber Week.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJennings Imel\n\nExecutive Director\n\nU.S. Chamber of Commerce\n\n\n\nBefore joining the U.S. Chamber staff in 2013\, Jennings worked in Washington\, DC at the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress and at the public affairs firm of Mercury\, Clark & Weinstock. Prior to moving to DC\, Jennings worked in the California State Assembly\; he also managed and worked on several successful congressional and state legislative campaigns\, mostly in the Southern California region.\n\n\n\nJennings received a master's degree in international affairs from The George Washington University and bachelor's degrees in political science and German from the University of California\, Riverside.\n\n\n\n\n\nTonga Hopoi\n\nVice President\, Policy and Public Affairs\n\nChamber of Commerce Hawaii\n\n\n\nTonga began her career in public policy as a White House policy intern in the Office of the First Lady Mrs. Michelle Obama working on initiatives such as "Reach Higher" and "Let Girls Learn". Beyond her work in the Office of the First Lady\, Tonga was the first Tongan to hold a position in the White House and is recognized in the White House Records.\nIn August of 2017\, Tonga moved to Hawai'i and served as Committee Clerk for the Chair of the Senate Committee(s) on Transportation and Energy\, and in 2018\, she served as the Chief of Staff for the Senate Majority Leader in the Hawai'i State Senate. In 2019\, Tonga presented workshops on parliamentary practice\, and legislative procedure at the United Nations Development Program Regional Conference on Parliamentary Oversight in Auckland\, New Zealand. In 2021\, Tonga was selected in the Oregon State University (OSU) Orange & Black Awards for the Don & Shirley Young Alumni Award. In February of 2022\, she organized the Senate's donation and relief efforts for the Kingdom of Tonga after the catastrophic flooding from the eruption of a nearby underground volcano. After Tonga's tenure in the Hawai'i State Senate\, she worked at the Honolulu City Council and Kamehameha Schools.\n\n\n\nTonga was raised with her two sisters by her mother and late stepfather in Portland\, OR. She studied Philosophy and English at OSU and served as OSU Student Body Madam President 2011-2012. X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Aloha! Registration has closed but walk-ins will be available. For any questions\, please reach out to Marisa Escalante at mescalante@cochawaii.org. Mahalo! \;
\n
\nChamber Week(s) \;presented by Alaska Airlines &\; Hawaiian Airlines \;is \;a multi-week series of events and programming that coincides with the opening of the Hawaii State Legislature to connect members and the business community with legislators and engage them in the legislative process. \;
\n
\nFrom Hawaii to the Hill: Legislative 201 &\; Federal Update allows you to hear from experts on 2026 legislation that will impact the business community including Jennings Imel\, \;Executive Director\, Western Region\, U.S. Chamber of Commerce\, \;Tonga Hopoi\, Vice President\, Policy and Public Affairs\, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii\, and other special guests.
\n \;
\nThis informative session will kick-off with a Legislative 201 presentation by Tonga Hopoi. \;This session goes beyond &ldquo\;how a bill becomes law&rdquo\; and explores the deeper strategies behind legislative engagement\, including the Chamber&rsquo\;s legislative 2026 priorities\, how to build relationships with legislators\, provide impactful testimony\, and navigate committee hearings. Learn practical tools for monitoring legislation in real time\, understanding political dynamics\, and \;information on the Chamber'\;s legislative packet for 2026.
\n
\nFollowed by Jennings Imel for a Federal Outlook update on topics including \;trade\, infrastructure\, immigration and other key issues from the federal level and current administration. \;
\n
\nComplimentary for Chamber members. Registration includes coffee and pastries.
\n
\nMarketing opportunities are available to promote your company during Chamber Week. Please \;click here \;​\;for more information.
\n
\nCLICK HERE \;to watch \;our 2025 \;PSA to learn more about Chamber Week.
\n
\n
\n
\nJennings Imel
\nExecutive Director
\nU.S. Chamber of Commerce
\n
\nBefore joining the U.S. Chamber staff in 2013\, Jennings worked in Washington\, DC at the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress and at the public affairs firm of Mercury\, Clark &\; Weinstock. Prior to moving to DC\, Jennings worked in the California State Assembly\; he also managed and worked on several successful congressional and state legislative campaigns\, mostly in the Southern California region.
\n
\nJennings received a master'\;s degree in international affairs from The George Washington University and bachelor'\;s degrees in political science and German from the University of California\, Riverside.
\n
\n
\nTonga Hopoi
\nVice President\, Policy and Public Affairs
\nChamber of Commerce Hawaii
\n
\nTonga began her career in public policy as a White House policy intern in the Office of the First Lady Mrs. Michelle Obama working on initiatives such as &ldquo\;Reach Higher&rdquo\; and &ldquo\;Let Girls Learn&rdquo\;. Beyond her work in the Office of the First Lady\, Tonga was the first Tongan to hold a position in the White House and is recognized in the White House Records.

\nIn August of 2017\, Tonga moved to Hawai&rsquo\;i and served as Committee Clerk for the Chair of the Senate Committee(s) on Transportation and Energy\, and in 2018\, she served as the Chief of Staff for the Senate Majority Leader in the Hawai&rsquo\;i State Senate. In 2019\, Tonga presented workshops on parliamentary practice\, and legislative procedure at the United Nations Development Program Regional Conference on Parliamentary Oversight in Auckland\, New Zealand. In 2021\, Tonga was selected in \; the Oregon State University (OSU) Orange &\; Black Awards for the Don &\; Shirley Young Alumni Award. In February of 2022\, she organized the Senate&rsquo\;s donation and relief efforts for the Kingdom of Tonga after the catastrophic flooding from the eruption of a nearby underground volcano. After Tonga&rsquo\;s tenure in the Hawai&rsquo\;i State Senate\, she worked at the Honolulu City Council and Kamehameha Schools.\n\n

\nTonga was raised with her two sisters by her mother and late stepfather in Portland\, OR. She studied Philosophy and English at OSU and served as OSU Student Body Madam President 2011-2012. \;
\n
\n \; LOCATION:Central Pacific Bank Main Branch 20th Floor\, Waimea Room Parking: Not included in registration. Parking available at Alii Place on Alakea Street. 1099 Alakea St.\, Ste. 2440\, Honolulu\, HI 96813. $3 flat rate for 2-hours. UID:e.2453.1114726 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20261023T045719Z URL:https://business.cochawaii.org/events/details/chamber-weeks-2026-from-hawaii-to-the-hill-legislative-201-federal-policy-update-presented-by-zippy-s-1114726 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR