4th Annual YP Cost of Living Summit presented by Tradewind Group

Educate. Advocate. Empower.

Let's Build a More Livable Hawaii, Together
The 4th Annual Cost of Living Summit presented by Tradewind Group isn't just another conference. It's where young professionals get the tools, the people, and the plan to help move Hawai‘i forward, not someday, but right now.

This Year's Focus: Rooted in What Matters
The whole day runs on three things we can all get behind: educate, advocate, empower. We're zeroing in on the costs that hit closest to home, housing, wages and careers, and the real price of starting a family, and connecting them to the Chamber's 2030 Blueprint for a more competitive, affordable Hawai‘i. We close the day with our Staying Rooted workshops, built to help you grow deep here and step into leadership at home.

Thursday, October 15, 2026 | All-Day Summit | Prince Waikiki
Includes continental breakfast, lunch, and a pau hana reception with pupus and a drink ticket.
 

Full-Day Agenda Highlights
7:30 – 9:00 AM | Registration + Breakfast Expo Start the morning with coffee, breakfast, and time to walk the expo. Meet the organizations, resources, and people who make the rest of the day click.

8:00 – 8:45 AM | Financial Literacy Workshops: Surviving in Hawai‘i Grab a seat and learn from the experts on:

• How to grow your money
• Buy a home
• Understand tax deductions
• Develop your own business

 
9:00 – 9:30 AM | Opening Remarks, 2030 Blueprint & Legislative Recap We'll kick off the day with a warm welcome and set the tone with a look at the Chamber’s 2030 Blueprint, what it is, why it matters, and how it connects to you and your future. Then, we’ll transition into a rapid-fire recap of key outcomes from this legislative session,
breaking down what changed at the Capitol and what it means for young professionals across the islands.
 
MORNING SESSIONS
9:30 – 10:15 AM | TED Talk Presentations Three short, high-energy talks on the issues shaping our cost of living: housing and pathways to homeownership; wages, careers, and economic opportunity; and childcare, family formation, and the true cost of starting a family. Big ideas, tight timing, plenty to chew on.

10:50 – 11:00 AM | Panel Discussion Our three topics come together in one conversation. Hear industry experts and civic leaders connect the dots between housing, work, and ‘ohana, moderated by Hawai‘i Public Radio.

11:00 – 11:45 AM | Small-Group Breakouts Pull up a chair and dig in. Ask questions, share your story, and trade real solutions around the morning's topics with people in the same boat.

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Break
 
LUNCH SESSIONS
12:00 – 1:00 PM | Legislator Connect Lunch Face time with the lawmakers shaping cost-of-living policy. This is your chance to talk story and engage directly with decision-makers in an open, candid conversation.

1:00 – 1:30 PM | State of the Economy A clear-eyed read on where Hawai‘i's economy stands and where it's headed.

1:30 - 1:45 PM | Break
 
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
1:45 – 3:00 PM | Afternoon Breakouts: Staying Rooted Workshops built to help young professionals keep growing deep roots here and get ready to lead. Pick your track:

• Your Voice Matters: How young professionals can influence local government
• Boardroom Ready: The skills you need to serve on a board with impact
• Mentors and Sponsors: Why both are important to grow

 
3:00 – 4:30 PM | Pau Hana (Because Balance) Cap the day with a pau hana social. Fill out your survey while everything's still fresh for a chance to win, then reflect, decompress, and connect with the people just as invested in Hawai‘i's future as you are.