Robotics at APEC makes national news

Rep. Angus McKelvey shared the following good news on the Robotics event at the Hawaii Convention Center, held during APEC week. Rep. McKelvey was involved with Speaker Calvin Say in establishing the event as a tie-in with the APEC activities.

NASA worked with Hawaii's UH Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) to set up a real-time demonstration of NASA rovers at a Lunar/Mars site on the Big Island. The rovers were driven remotely by elementary students from the Big Island. Even some of the APEC delegates got to drive the rovers by remote at the end of the day.

The full story can be read on NASA's website.

Here are some pictures of the demonstration at the convention center, and some of the VIP guests that dropped by:

Photos courtesy of Rep. Mark Nakashima

Robotics Organizing Committee - Hawaii

Governor Abercrombie learning how to drive VEX robots

Rep. Mark Nakashima visiting ROC exhibit

Henk Rogers speaking with students

Legislature hosts U.S. - China CEO Forum on Clean Energy

Speaker Calvin Say exchanges business cards with China executives.

On Sunday, November 13, 2011, as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism coordinated a major energy forum with participants from top business leaders from China and the United States. The event started with a reception at Washington Place, hosted by Governor Abercrombie, and then a formal program at the State Capitol in the House of Representatives chamber.

Here is the agenda:

Emcee: Mark Glick, Administrator, DBEDT, State Energy Office

Welcome remarks by The Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say, Speaker, Hawaii State House of Representatives

Opening remarks by The Honorable Neil Abercrombie, Governor, State of Hawaii

Session 1: China Go-global Strategies on Clean Energy

Speaker: Han Meiquing, Deputy Director General, China Council for Promotion of International Trade

Session 2: U.S. Department of Defense in Hawaii: Transforming to Clean Energy

Speaker: Dr. George Kailiwai, U.S. Pacific Command, Director, Resources and Assessment

Session 3: Hawaii Clean Energy Progress: Leading the Way

Speaker: Richard C. Lim, Director, Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

Session 4: China's Energy Market & Practices

Speaker: Wang Donghai, Chairman, Bestsun Energy Group

Closing Remarks by The Honorable J. Kalani English, Senator, Hawaii State Senate

UPDATE: As a result of the forum, DBEDT reports that "Governor Abercrombie signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). This commitment is the beginning of furthering our efforts toward mutally beneficial initiatives in renewable energy programs between Hawaii and China."