BLUE PLANET ALLIANCE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM,
COHORT VII

The Blue Planet Alliance Fellowship Program Cohort VII brings together government leaders, utility executives, regulators, technical experts, and community advocates from eight island nations and territories for an immersive week of collaboration in Hawai‘i. United by a shared commitment to advancing renewable energy and strengthening energy resilience, Fellows will participate in workshops, peer-learning sessions, and site visits to active renewable-energy projects designed to accelerate the transition toward a fossil fuel-free future.

Held as part of Blue Planet Alliance’s growing 100x100 campaign — which seeks to inspire 100 islands and territories to commit to 100% renewable energy before 2030 — Cohort VII convenes leaders from Bonaire, Fiji, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Wallis and Futuna. Together, Fellows will join a rapidly expanding global network of island jurisdictions working to transform ambitious climate goals into actionable strategies.

Throughout the week, participants will engage directly with the policymakers, utility leaders, legal and financial experts, and renewable-energy practitioners who helped make Hawai‘i the first U.S. state to adopt a 100% renewable-energy mandate. Sessions will explore energy policy and regulation, utility transformation, renewable project development, innovative financing, climate resilience, and legislative pathways for achieving long-term clean-energy targets. Fellows also collaborate on island-specific roadmaps designed to address the unique opportunities and challenges facing their home jurisdictions.

As part of Blue Planet Alliance’s mission to help islands, states, and nations achieve 100% renewable energy by 2045, Cohort VII will strengthen partnerships, expand regional collaboration, and equip leaders with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to advance renewable-energy development at home. The relationships forged and strategies developed during the Fellowship will continue to empower participating jurisdictions as they build resilient, affordable, and sustainable-energy futures.

Program Schedule

Monday, October 19

Morning

8:00 – 8:30 AM | Shuttle to East-West Center
Vans will shuttle Fellows from the hotel to the East-West Center.

8:00 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Networking
Light breakfast and networking in the Ohana Room (B1F, Lower Level).

8:45 AM | Seating Begins
Asia Room (2nd Level)

9:00 – 9:20 AM | Cultural Protocol
Kahu Kordell Kekoa

9:20 – 9:35 AM | Opening Remarks
Henk Rogers, Founder/CEO, Blue Planet Alliance

9:37 – 9:55 AM | Introduction of Curriculum and the Week Ahead
Jeff Mikulina, Lead Faculty + Climate and Social Impact Strategist

9:55 – 10:00 AM | Break

10:00 – 10:54 AM | Island Presentations
Eight five-minute presentations from participating islands:

• 10:00 Bonaire

• 10:07 Fiji

• 10:14 French Guiana

• 10:21 Guadeloupe

• 10:28 Martinique

• 10:35 Saint Martin

• 10:42 São Tomé and Príncipe

• 10:49 Wallis and Futuna

10:54 – 11:05 AM | Break

11:05 – 11:50 AM | Kauai’s 100% Renewable Energy Journey
David Bissell, President and CEO, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative

12:00 – 12:15 PM | Cohort 7 Group Photo
All Fellows, speakers, and guests, followed by a move to the Lunch Room.

Afternoon

12:15 – 1:30 PM | Lunch with Guest Speaker Governor Ige

1:30 – 1:45 PM | Return to Asia Room (3F)

1:45 – 2:00 PM | Workshop Orientation

2:00 – 2:45 PM | Serious Play #1: LEGO Workshop
Exploring the Complexity of Island Systems

2:45 – 2:50 PM | Recap

2:50 – 3:35 PM | Serious Play #2: LEGO Workshop
Introduction to Islands’ Energy Challenge

3:35 – 3:45 PM | Return to Asia Room

3:45 – 5:00 PM | Team Presentations: Island Grid Models
Each island team presents for five minutes.

5:00 – 5:15 PM | Closing + Daily Survey

5:15 PM | Return Shuttle

Tuesday, October 20

Morning

8:00 – 8:30 AM | Shuttle to East-West Center
Vans will shuttle Fellows from the hotel to the East-West Center.

8:00 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Networking
Light breakfast and networking in the Asia Room (2nd Level).

8:45 AM | Seating Begins
Asia Room

9:00 – 9:15 AM | Recap of Day 1
Jeff Mikulina, Climate and Social Impact Strategist

9:20 – 9:30 AM | Partner Presentation: CCSA
A five-minute presentation followed by five minutes of Q&A.
Tashi Browne, Program Coordinator, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator (CCSA)

9:30 – 11:00 AM | Foundational Structures: Getting Regulation Right
Richard Wallsgrove, Co-Director of the Environmental Law Program, Assistant Professor of Law, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Isaac Moriwake, Managing Attorney, Earthjustice

11:00 – 11:10 AM | Break

11:10 – 11:55 AM | Renewable Project Development: Challenges and Solutions
Wren Wescoatt, Vice President of Development, Longroad Energy

12:05 – 12:20 PM | Team Photos

• Bonaire

• Fiji

• French Guiana

Afternoon

12:20 – 12:30 PM | Head to Lunch

12:30 – 1:30 PM | Lunch with Colton Ching, Senior Vice President, Planning & Technology, Hawaiian Electric Company

1:30 – 1:45 PM | Team Photos

• Guadeloupe

• Martinique

• Saint Martin

1:45 – 1:55 PM | Return to Asia Room (3F)

1:55 – 2:40 PM | Hawaii’s Current Regulatory Approach
Colin Yost, Commissioner, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission

2:45 – 3:45 PM | Breakout: Reflection of Speakers

3:45 – 4:00 PM | Team Photos

• São Tomé and Príncipe

• Wallis and Futuna

• BPA & Partners

4:00 – 4:45 PM | Assessing and Managing Risk in Climate Catastrophe
Tony Siamomua, Education Coordinator, Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC)

4:45 – 5:00 PM | Closing + Daily Survey

5:00 PM | Return Shuttle

Wednesday, October 21

Morning

7:00 – 8:35 AM | Breakfast
Leahi Room & Lanai (Queen Kapiolani Hotel, 3rd Floor)

9:15 – 9:30 AM | Check-In for Excursion
Everyone meets in the hotel lobby to check in for the bus.

9:30 AM | Depart Hotel

10:00 – 11:30 AM | Kahauiki Village Visit
A tour of a permanent supportive housing program, about 1.5 hours long. After an introduction and overview, Fellows will split into three groups:

• Area 1: Housing

• Area 2: Solar and Battery System

• Area 3: Aquaponics and Garden

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Depart Kahauiki Village

Afternoon

12:00 PM | Arrive at Leeward Community College (LCC)

12:15 – 12:45 PM | LCC Presentation: Net-Zero Campus

12:45 – 1:45 PM | Lunch at LCC
Prepared by the LCC Culinary Team

1:45 – 2:15 PM | LCC Campus Walk-Through

2:15 PM | Depart LCC

3:00 – 4:30 PM | Mililani Solar Park Visit
Program runs from 3:00 to 4:15 PM.

4:30 PM | Depart Mililani Solar Park

5:30 – 5:45 PM | King Kamehameha Statue Visit

6:15 PM | Return to Queen Kapiolani Hotel

Thursday, October 22

Morning

8:00 – 8:30 AM | Shuttle to East-West Center
Vans will shuttle Fellows from the hotel to the East-West Center.

8:00 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Networking
Light breakfast and networking in the Ohana Room (B1F, Lower Level).

8:45 AM | Seating Begins
Asia Room (2nd Level)

9:00 – 9:15 AM | Recap of Days 2 & 3
Jeff Mikulina, Lead Faculty + Climate and Social Impact Strategist

9:15 – 10:00 AM | Creative Financing for Clean Energy and Equity
Gwen Yamamoto-Lau, Executive Director, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority

10:00 – 11:45 AM | Navigating Transformational Change
Bill Coy, Director of Global Policy Research at Energy Innovation

Afternoon

11:45 – 12:00 PM | Head to Lunch

12:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Lunch with Guest Speaker Prof. Chip Fletcher
Dean, School of Ocean, Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Mānoa

1:00 – 1:15 PM | Return to Asia Room

1:15 – 2:00 PM | Fighting for a Sustainable Planet
Joshua Cooper, Office of Innovation and Sustainability, County of Maui

2:05 – 2:50 PM | Competitive Financing in the Pacific Region for Renewable Energy
Olga Reym, Vice President of Operations, Mana Pacific, Inc.

2:50 – 3:00 PM | Caribbean Director Updates

3:00 – 3:10 PM | Pacific Director Updates

3:10 – 4:20 PM | Breakout Session: Discussion & Formulation

4:20 – 4:30 PM | Return to Asia Room

4:30 – 4:45 PM | Closing + Daily Survey

4:45 PM | Return Shuttle

Friday, October 23

Morning

8:00 – 8:30 AM | Shuttle to East-West Center
Vans will shuttle Fellows from the hotel to the East-West Center.

8:00 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Networking
Light breakfast and networking in the Asia Room (2nd Level).

8:45 AM | Seating Begins Asia Room

8:50 – 9:00 AM | Partner Presentation: CCREEE

Kashieka Broaster, WIRE Programme Lead, Gender Specialist, Caribbean Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE)

9:00 – 9:15 AM | Recap of Day 4
Jeff Mikulina, Lead Faculty + Climate and Social Impact Strategist

9:15 – 10:00 AM | The Island Energy Puzzle: Modeling a Clean Energy Future
Matthias Fripp, PhD, Director of Global Policy Research, Energy Innovation

10:00 – 10:05 AM | Transition

10:05 – 11:35 AM | Workshop, Part 1: Strategic Team Discussions
Feel free to roam around and explore the East-West Center campus while you prepare your final Island Presentations.

11:35 AM – 12:00 PM | Workshop, Part 2: Island Roadmap Review
You will be paired with another Fellow island team to share and receive input on each other’s work.

Afternoon

12:10 – 1:15 PM | Lunch with Guest Speaker Senator Chris Lee
Hawaiʻi State Legislature

1:15 – 2:45 PM | Workshop, Part 3: Ideation and Formulation of Island Energy Transition Plans
Prepare PowerPoint presentations for the final Island Presentations.

2:45 – 3:00 PM | Return to Asia Room

3:00 – 4:18 PM | Workshop, Part 4: Island Presentations — Roadmap to 100% Renewable Energy
Each island team gives an eight-minute final presentation:

• 3:00 Bonaire

• 3:10 Fiji

• 3:20 French Guiana

• 3:30 Guadeloupe

• 3:40 Martinique

• 3:50 Saint Martin

• 4:00 São Tomé and Príncipe

• 4:10 Wallis and Futuna

4:20 – 4:30 PM | Final Survey

4:30 – 4:40 PM | Closing

4:40 PM | Shuttle to Hotel
Vans will shuttle Fellows from the East-West Center back to the hotel.

Evening

5:45 PM | Shuttle to Farewell Reception
Vans will shuttle Fellows from the hotel to the Farewell Reception.

6:00 – 8:30 PM | Farewell Reception
Rogers Residence

8:30 – 10:00 PM | After Party at Hard Rock Cafe

Meet the Fellows