Our History

Creating a Framework

Honolulu, Hawaii

A second roundtable was held in Honolulu the following March. This meeting led to specific and concrete actions for comprehensive risk management for the region. These actions included:

• Creation of an organizational framework based on hazard themes, including seismic, volcanic, and tsunamic hazards; climate and weather; and human-induced risks
• Creation of the hui, or working groups
• Identification of hui priority actions
• Activation of the Navigators Council to develop a regional action plan and provide policy guidance

Partnerships for Resilience

Kaua'i, Hawaii

The second annual meeting was held on Kaua'i. As a result of recent catastrophes such as the Indian Ocean Tsunami of December 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, PRiMO chose to focus its risk-management initiatives on building resilience at the community level and, within the hui, identifying opportunities to work more closely together toward this purpose.

Fostering Resilient Communities

Honolulu, Hawaii

The PRiMO annual meeting in Honolulu provided an opportunity to renew the commitment to PRiMO's mission: building partnerships for resilient communities in the Pacific. This meeting also brought a significant increase in participation with the inclusion of representatives from other jurisdictions around the Pacific.

Growing PRiMO's Focus

Honolulu, Hawaii

PRiMO, back in Honolulu in March, included a professional development workshop and introduced the NOAA Coastal Storms Program into the Pacific region.

Celebrating 10 Years

Honolulu, Hawaii

The tenth meeting, titled "Ten Years of Partnering for Resilient Pacific Island Communities," returned to Honolulu. The keynote was provided by Jennifer Sabas, Senator Inouye's chief of staff. The sessions focused on a number of topics related to the hui with several projects identified for continued effort.

Focus on Small Islands

Honolulu, Hawaii

The 2014 PRiMO meeting featured a keynote address by President Tong of Kiribati. He told the story of climate change from the small Pacific island perspective, enlightening and inspiring everyone in attendance. Almost 300 people attended and contributed to the robust and productive discussion.

A Variety of Perspectives on Resilience

Tackling Challenges Through Innovation

Honolulu, Hawaii

PRiMO focused on partnerships and how it, along with innovative thinking, is leading communities to address the many challenges confronting them. The keynote speakers spoke of the unique challenges they are addressing and the new paths they are charting to do it. The speakers included his Excellency Enele Sosene Sopoaga, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, and his wife Salilo Enele Sopoaga, Mr. Henk B. Rogers, his Excellency Anote Tong, former President of Kiribati, and his wife Meme Bernadete Tong, the Honorable Tim Manning, the Honorable Lemanu Peleti Mauga, Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa, and the Honorable Kirk Caldwell, the mayor of the City and County of Honolulu.

Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction

Honolulu, Hawaii

The PRiMO 2018 meeting highlighted the vast possibilities for technology to fulfill PRiMO’s vision for a resilient Pacific region. The conference was designed to facilitate partnerships that transcend geographic boundaries and disciplines, providing unique opportunities for collaboration among attendees. Keynote speakers included Dr. Jaehyun Shim, President of the National Disaster Management Research Institute; Chad Blair, reporter and editor for Hawaii; Leigh Ann Eaton, General Forecaster for the National Weather Service; Burt Lum, Executive Director of Hawaii Open Data; Colby Stanton, Director for the Pacific Area Office of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency; and more.

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Building a Resilient Pacific

Honolulu, Hawaii

“Building a Resilient Pacific” focused on the shared risks and shared solutions from across the Pacific Island region. Keynote speakers included the Honorable Henry Puna of Cook Islands, the Honorable Fiame Naomi Mata’afa of Samoa, Dr. Lori Peek of the Natural Hazards Center, Rear Admiral Timothy Gallaudet of NOAA, Arona Ngari of the Cook Islands Meteorological Service, author and journalist Rachel Reeves, Dr. Jim Reilly of the U.S. Geological Survey, Trigg Talley of the U.S. Department of State, and Dr. John Woods of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

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Equity and Resilience in a Changing World

Honolulu, Hawaii

PRiMO celebrated its 20 years of service to the region with a meeting focusing on fundamental questions of risk, vulnerability, and equity, and reconsidered pathways for a more resilient future for all Pacific Island communities. Keynote speakers included His Excellency David Panuelo, President of the Federated States of Micronesia, Dr. Lilik Kurniawan, Prime Secretary of Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana, and Kainoa Azama and Mariko Quinn, students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

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