December 2025

Aloha IEEE Hawaii Section,

As my term as Chair of the IEEE Hawaii Section comes to a close, I’m proud to reflect on the incredible progress we’ve made together. Our events saw increased attendance and engagement, thanks to your active participation. We also strengthened partnerships with other engineering professional societies and companies, creating new opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

This year, we’ve also deepened our connection with our student groups, supporting the next generation of engineers and strengthening the bridge between academia and industry. At the same time, we’ve greatly increased the visibility of our Section and volunteers across all areas of IEEE, showcasing the innovation and impact coming from Hawaii.

It’s been a privilege to serve alongside such a passionate group of volunteers and I thank our team for their year-long hard work and dedication. I’m confident the incoming leadership will build on our momentum and continue to foster a vibrant, forward-looking Section. Excited to see what’s next!

Thank you,

Brianne Tengan

IEEE Hawaii Section Chair

Ever had a strange or uncomfortable online exchange with a helpdesk, chatbot, or scammer? These moments reflect Uncanny Discourse—a new concept describing the eerie, power-shifting interactions that emerge when we’re unsure whether we’re talking to a human or an AI. This framework helps us better understand the reality-bending nature of modern AI communication. Learn how to navigate, mitigate, or even embrace this phenomenon when designing interactive systems. Uncanny Discourse is out there—unpredictable, evolving, and shaping the future of digital interaction.

Date: 10 December 2025

Time: 06:30 PM to 08:00 PM HST

Location: 680 Ala Moana Blvd #609, Building: SALT at Our Kaka'ako, Suite 103

Dr. Federico Rosei from the University of Trieste will be presenting a Distinguished Lecturer Seminar titled "Multifunctional Materials for Emerging Optoelectronic Technologies" 

Date: 19 December 2025

Time: 06:30 PM to 08:00 PM HST

Location: 2540 Dole St. UH Manoa, Holmes Hall Room Number: 244

On November 13th, the IEEE Hawaii Section held its 75th Anniversary celebration at The Pacific Club. Speakers Edward Sun, Wayne Shiroma, and John Imperial shared stories, triumphs, and historical insights from the Hawaii Section’s past. IEEE President Kathleen Kramer shared her well wishes through a special video message. Appreciation goes to Joseph Wei, Scott Tamashiro, and the IEEE Region 6 leadership for joining the celebration. A huge mahalo to event sponsor Deborah Zimmerman! Here’s to another remarkable 75 years!

Congratulations to our very own Wayne Shiroma for winning the inaugural HKN Advisor of Distinction Award! He has served as faculty advisor to the IEEE‑HKN Delta Omega Chapter at University of Hawaii at Manoa since 1999.

This recognition is to honor those chapter advisors who have guided outstanding programs of chapter activities over an extended period. The recognition affirms the role of chapter advisors in mentoring chapter leaders, in maintaining effective chapter operations, in impacting others through Eta Kappa Nu programs, and in promoting Eta Kappa Nu in their campus community.

IEEE Hawaiʻi Young Professionals wrapped up the year with a Winter Beach BBQ on November 23, bringing members together for good food, great company, and a great opportunity to connect with fellow engineers.

On November 18th, the IEEE Hawaii Industry Applications Society Chapter (IAS) toured the Kalaeloa Partners LP (KPLP) Cogeneration Plant. Participants observed the 208-megawatt combined-cycle cogeneration plant in operation and learned how it combusts low sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) to produce electricity and steam. Host Mike guided attendees through key systems—including the turbines, cooling towers, and switchgear—and brought the group into the control room to speak with the plant operator. The opportunity to see the equipment up close and hear firsthand how the plant is run made for an eye-opening and memorable visit.

A huge shout out to Jenny Brown, who served as our Hawai’i Representative for the IEEE Central/Northwest/Northeast Area Meeting on October 18th. This meeting is designed to foster collaboration, learning, and leadership development among Section volunteers and Region leaders. Attendees also had the exciting opportunity to tour Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, a leading national laboratory known for groundbreaking discoveries in energy, physics, and environmental science!

We are excited to share that the IEEE WIE Coding Adventure program successfully delivered two hands-on coding workshops for middle school students on November 4 and 7, 2025. Students explored block-based programming with Scratch, experimented with interactive sensors using Makey Makey, and learned beginner microcontroller programming with Micro:bit. On Day 2, students submitted the Scratch games they built during Day 1, and our IEEE volunteers reviewed and selected the Top 3 winners! A total of 30 students participated over the two days, demonstrating impressive creativity, teamwork, and enthusiasm. The program was made possible through the support of the dedicated volunteers from the IEEE Hawaii Power & Energy Society Chapter, IEEE Hawaii Women in Engineering and the Society of Women Engineer. We love seeing students discover their potential in STEM—and we look forward to offering more hands-on learning opportunities to inspire the next generation of innovators! 

On October 30, the Lei Your Path: Shaping Your Career Journey event brought together young engineers and students from across Hawai‘i for an inspiring blend of career development, mentorship, cultural learning, and community building. Participants enjoyed a hands-on lei-making activity that celebrated the spirit of aloha while reflecting on their personal career journeys. The event featured three distinguished speakers — Mary Despe de Echemendia, Eugene Chang, and Chriselle Nagata — who shared practical guidance and personal experiences on career planning, early career decision-making, and internship pathways through the Akamai Workforce Initiative (AWI). Their insights provided students with valuable, actionable strategies to support their next steps in engineering and beyond. 

Congratulations to Our New IEEE Senior Member!

On behalf of the IEEE community, the IEEE Hawaii Section is pleased to recognize Dr. Anthony Peruma as recently elevated to Senior Member. Senior Member is the highest grade for which IEEE members can apply. It reflects experience and professional maturity in IEEE-designated fields.

If you are interested in elevating to Senior Member, email Brianne Tengan (brianne.tengan@ieee.org).

Kaimuki Middle School’s VEX Robotics Team 4400 will be hosting a local qualifying ADC tournament and is seeking 12 adult volunteers from any career field to serve as interview judges. Each judge will be paired with another and provided a set of questions to ask participating middle and high school teams. The opportunity offers a meaningful way to connect with students, encourage future innovators, and support STEM education—no robotics or drone experience required!

Date: December 13, 2025, Saturday, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Location: Kaimuki Middle School

If you’re interested or have questions, please contact star.voyagers.808@gmail.com.

The following jobs are currently listed on the IEEE Job Board.

• Electrical/Mechanical Engineer - Adon Renewables
• CER Program Engineer - Hawaiian Electric 

• ASIAA/EAO Computing/Network Specialist - Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) and East Asian Observatory

For job listings, visit r6.ieee.org/hawaii/jobs

Want to post a job? r6.ieee.org/hawaii/post-a-job