Smobler expands to Hawai‘i with NOVA launch
NOVA lands in Honolulu for Honolulu Tech Week, featuring 13+ local ventures alongside Smobler’s AI work with the State of Hawai‘i.
Smobler announced the launch of Smobler Hawaii, marked by NOVA 2025: Hawai‘i Edition on 9 September at The Hub Coworking Hawaii, as part of Honolulu Tech Week.
NOVA is a travelling in-real-life mini-festival built to create meaningful connections at the intersection of technology, culture and community. It runs alongside major global events as an intimate alternative to large, impersonal conferences — since launching at TOKEN2049 Singapore in 2023 it has been an official side event at SXSW in Austin.
The Hawai‘i edition carries the theme “Culture. Community. Code”, spotlighting the islands’ cultural heritage, creative economy and entrepreneurial spirit alongside global tech leaders. It is co-presented with Kairos Ray, a Hawai‘i-based premium home and apparel brand devoted to modern design and the preservation of traditional craftsmanship.
“Launching Smobler Hawaii in my adopted home is deeply personal and profoundly purposeful,” said Dr. Loretta Chen, founder and CEO of Smobler. “Hawaii has always been a meeting point of East and West, and NOVA 2025: Hawaii Edition is our way of honoring that heritage — bridging local creativity with global innovation to build a future that is inclusive, sustainable, and community-driven.”
Michael Bennett, founder of Honolulu Tech Week, framed the fit: the week’s mission is to accelerate the growth of tech talent, capital and adoption across Hawai‘i, and the NOVA lineup connects the local community with a global presence. Speakers include Meli James, co-founder of the economic development initiative Mana Up, and the evening features local pop-ups including Galleon Chocolates.
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