2023 NAFSA Region XII Conference

Registration opens August 15, 2023. The Early Bird Registration deadline is September 25, 2023.

Our Local Arrangements Team is creating guides to help you explore and familiarize yourself with local culture! New guides will be added each month, so please check back and view the latest edition!

• Guide #1: Things to do in Waikīkī
• Guide #2: Introducing the ʻāina: Caring for Hawaiian land
• Guide #3: ʻŌlelo o ka lā (word of the day): ʻOhana
• Guide #4: Quick Facts for the First Time Visitor
• Guide #5: Beyond Waikīkī
• Guide #6: Local Transportation
• Guide #7: Pre-Departure Prep

CLOSED

All attendees traveling to the US from abroad can request a visa letter of invitation via the link above. 

All requests submitted by the October 1st will be screened, but not all requests will be approved. Please allow one week from your date of submission for delivery. If approved, an invitation letter on official letterhead will be issued to you as a PDF document, and will be e-mailed to the address you provided.

Please check with your local U.S. consulate to allow sufficient time for visa processing. Your request for a letter of invitation to attend a NAFSA regional conference does not guarantee that you will receive a visa.

The following preconference workshops will be held on Monday, October 16th and Tuesday, October 17th at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. 

• F-1 Student Advising for Beginners: Monday, October 16, 2023 | 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
• F-1 Student Advising: Intermediate: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 | 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
• Recruiting International Students: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 | 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
• Immigration 101: An In-Depth Exploration of the U.S. Immigration System: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 | 1:00 PM-5:00 PM

To view the full conference schedule, please access the online Conference Planner.

The full conference planner will be available on September 12, 2023. Meanwhile, you can view the list of session topics.

We are pleased to offer a Resumé Review program and a Mentor-Mentee program again this year. 

The Resume Review program offers expert guidance and feedback from experienced professionals in the field, ensuring that resumes are tailored to highlight relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications. Registrants will have the opportunity to have their resume reviewed on-site, during the conference.

The Mentor-Mentee program pairs new professionals in international education with experienced members. Learn from your mentor, tackle challenges, and expand your network. Mentors and mentees will be encouraged to connect virtually before the conference and meet up while in Honolulu.

You can sign up for both of these programs through the conference registration system. If you have already registered, you can log in to modify your registration and add either option.

The conference team has developed a number of special events and activities to help attendees learn more about Hawaiian culture and history. We invite you to consider signing up for one (or more!) of the following conference offerings. Please note, there are additional fees ($10-$20) required for some of these offerings, and all have a limited capacity. You can log back into the registration system to sign up for any of these events, and you can find more information about each offering in the Conference Planner.

Advocacy Event: The Impact of Tourists on Local Hawaiian Culture and People (Oct. 17, 2:30-4:30 PM)

Hawaiian Cultural Workshops

• The Tradition of the Hawaiian Lei (Oct. 18, 11:30 AM-12:30PM)
• Hula: The Heartbeat of Hawaiian Traditions (Oct. 18, 2:30-4:00 PM)
• Niu Mea Nui: Beloved and Important Coconut (Oct. 19, 2:30-4:00 PM)

Group Dinners (no host)
We have made group reservations at a few local restaurants throughout the week where you can meet new and fellow NAFSAns from Region XII. Sign up for a fun way to meet new people and build your network!
To sign up, register here.

Aloha Friday
Get ready to embrace the spirit of Aloha on Aloha Friday! On the final day of the conference, we encourage attendees to wear their finest Aloha attire to add some vibrant island vibes to our event. Let's make Friday a day to remember with colorful prints and a touch of Hawaiian flair.

For the past few years, Region XII has incorporated a community impact project into our annual conference. Below are two options for conference attendees to get involved with the local community.

Community Service Project - Malama `Aina
Are you ready to toil in the `aina (land) of Hawai’i? The NAFSA Region XII Hawai’i Pacific District is proud to offer a unique, Hawaiian experience. Be prepared to get dirty! You will be transported from the Hilton Hawaiian Village to the University of Hawai’i Lo’i via an open-air trolley. Water will be provided. Tuesday, 10/17 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Open to the first 30 participants who want to feel the mud between their toes! This event requires an additional fee of $20. If you're interested in participating in the Community Service Project, please revisit your conference registration and add it in your registration.

On-Site Donations
Our hearts and thoughts are with our colleagues, family, and friends in Maui, throughout Hawaii and our Region, who have been affected by the recent wildfire on Maui. Region XII will collaborate with Hawaii Community Foundation's Maui Strong Fund to support those directly affected. On-site Monday donations will be collected during the conference week.

In collaboration with the Institute for Human Services, we will be collecting monetary contributions, fresh toiletries, and school supplies during the conference to assist the homeless population in Hawaii.

NAFSA is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion. NAFSA does not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience, including people of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate for the conference. Participants violating these rules may be asked to leave the conference at the sole discretion of NAFSA’s management. If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, or if you witness unacceptable behavior, please inform the Regional Conference Planner, who will inform NAFSA staff, so that we may resolve any concerns. If you or another event participant witnesses or is a party to imminent physical danger or distress, promptly alert the appropriate security, law enforcement, or emergency medical authorities. This Code applies to all NAFSA members and event attendees in all NAFSA meeting venues, including the regional conference, ancillary events and social gatherings, whether officially sponsored by NAFSA or not and whether held in-person or virtually.

Conference registration and/or workshop registration may be canceled with full refund less a 10% processing fee, any time up until four (4) weeks prior, September 18, to the conference start date.

A 50% refund is available for conference registration and/or workshop registration provided written notification is received between four (4) weeks, September 19, and two (2) weeks prior, October 2,  to the conference start date.

No refunds will be granted after October 2, 2023. In the case of emergency/extenuating circumstances, special requests may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the regional leadership team following the conference.

NAFSA follows COVID-19 safety protocols as required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and local ordinances in the conference location, which currently do not require proof of vaccination or masking. Should the mandates change, NAFSA reserves the right to adjust conference attendance policies accordingly.

NAFSA strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination and boosters, as vaccines are recommended as a proven way to prevent the threat of critical illness. Many attendees may still choose to wear masks indoors, and we ask that all attendees respect those who elect to do so. NAFSA recommends attendees self-test before leaving home for the conference. If you feel ill on-site, please remain in your hotel room and test to determine your health status.

By registering for this event, you agree to the collection of contact and demographic information in accordance with NAFSA’s Privacy Policy. This includes any information unique to you that is available in the individual's NAFSA profile. NAFSA will share limited information (name, title, organization, state, and country) in the official attendee list. NAFSA may further share your contact information according to your selected “Communication Preferences” in your MyNAFSA and in accordance with NAFSA’s Privacy Policy.

Your data will be collected and utilized for NAFSA: Association of International Educators, organizer of this event, to allow your access to the event as well as its digital platform, CadmiumCD. Additionally, you agree to the sharing of your contact information with the trainers, coaches, and other program participants for the purpose of fulfilling the program for which you have registered. As a condition to participation, attendees consent to be recorded.