The Hawaii Geek Meet, an annual gathering for science and tech enthusiasts, artists, entrepreneurs, and more will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24 at Magic Island adjacent to Ala Moana Beach Park.
Now in its 15th year, the Hawaii Geek Meet brings together everyone from startup founders and coders to gamers and LEGO builders.
Ryan Ozawa, a local tech journalist and co-founder of ag tech company Smart Yields, launched the event in 2008. It returned last year after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ozawa conceptualized Hawaii Geek Meet as a grassroots gathering for clubs, community groups, businesses and individuals to share their passions in a casual environment. Participants in this year’s event listed on the website include Blue Startups, Deep Learning Hawaii, Hawaii Association of Podcasters, Hawaii XR, Iolani Esports and more.
“From the beginning I've hoped to see a mix of people who might not otherwise cross paths get together and see what things they might have in common,” Ozawa told PBN, adding that the event has attracted people with such diverse interests as astronomy, Star Wars, marine biology and graphic design. “What they do have in common is a passion — and a desire to share it with others. And some incredibly cool collaborations have come out of it.
“There are the veterans — ham radio operators, LEGO builders — but there are also people who are really into the latest and hottest thing. It's a geek village, a larger community of creatives and thinkers who come together to create a fun, family friendly festival. Every time it's built, it's different.”
New this year, environmental and sustainability groups will also join the mix. When asked why he opted to add this sector, Ozawa said, “A lot has changed since 2008, and I think one of the major shifts has been everyone becoming an environmentalist, and for sustainability to be a universal goal.”
“We know this innately, in Hawaii, and the Geek Meet can make that engaging and accessible,” he said.
When asked what he is most proud of during the event’s 15-year run, Ozawa highlighted the involvement of the various participants.
“I just pick a date and time and ask people to come. It's the community — many communities — that have turned out to make the Hawaii Geek Meet such a great event,” he said.
“There are always new groups joining the geek village, and I'm always excited to see what they share. Last year, the mechanical keyboard club and the video game music band were amazing. I can't wait to see what captures everyone's imagination this year.”
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