DESI Winter 2023 Meeting
DESI Winter Collaboration Meeting – December 11-14, 2023, Big Island of Hawaii, USA
The winter 2023 DESI collaboration meeting will be held at the beautiful island of Hawaii, at the Waikoloa Hilton resort. Please see the Welcome to Hawaii tab below for more about the island, and some recommendations from a local resident.
Welcome to Hawaii
I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to Hawai’i (pronounced Ha vay ee). Hawai’i is an island chain consisting of eight volcanic islands. The main islands are Ni’ihau, Kaua’i, Oahu, Molokai, Lãna’i, Kaho’olawe, Maui and Hawai’i. The big Island of Hawai’i (where you will be staying) is the youngest and consists of five volcanic peaks. As you travel north from the Kona airport to the hotel you will pass through a surrealistic landscape of lava flows from Mauna Loa. You may even get to see donkeys crossing the highway at the donkey crossing sign when the wild herd comes down the mountain to drink water. They will look both ways before attempting to cross the highway. Mauna Kea (the world’s largest astronomical observatory) is 9330 m above the sea floor (taller than Everest from its base). If you travel to the Kilauea volcano at Volcanoes National Park at the south end of the island, you can walk through the 135m Thurston lava tube and sometimes observe lava flowing into the ocean and new land being made. Legend has it that Maui lifted the islands by hooking the sea floor with a magic hook and then convincing his brothers to paddle very hard to pull in a big fish.
Hawai’i is a truly magical place. It is literally paradise on Earth. I recommend, if possible, to stay longer than the 4 days of the conference, taking advantage of the extended special room rate, to explore the Island, but most of all to meet the wonderful Hawai’ian people and experience aloha. Aloha is more than just a word used when greeting or parting. It is a spirit and a lifestyle that embodies mutual regard and affection and extends warmth and caring with no obligation in return. When you are in Hawai’i, practice greeting people that you don’t know with the word Aloha. Another word you should know is Mahalo (or thank you), or with emphasis, mahalo nui loa (thank you very much). The aina (land) is very sacred to the Hawaiian people and care for the aina and natural environment is part and parcel of their culture. Another important part of Hawai’ian culture is the sense of O’hana (family). This sense of O’hana extends to the larger community. Kapuna (older people) are revered. Typically, children were cared for by all the elder women in the community. If you are a woman of a certain age, don’t be surprised if young children refer to you as “auntie.” It is a sign of respect. On weekends you will see large extended families getting together at the beaches to go swimming, surfing, barbecue and to “talk story.” The objective of “talk story” is to pass on the wisdom of the Kapuna to the young and to share values. Hawai’ians don’t argue like most people do. The objective is not to show that they are right, and you are wrong. The objective is to get to know you. It is a wonderful culture that we can all learn from.
The Hilton Waikoloa is a place for relaxation and a wonderful place to bring your family. There is a canal with boats and a monorail that can take you from one end of the resort to another. There is a lagoon connected to the ocean full of colorful tropical fish and sea turtles. Bring or rent your snorkels and face mask. The big pool has a huge waterslide, grottos with hot tubs, a rope bridge and a sandy children’s beach at one end. The river pool has currents that you can swim against and has multiple levels. There is a full-service spa. There is also a mini golf course. There are hammocks all over the resort that you can lie in and look out over the ocean. There will be beautiful sunsets every night. There are multiple fancy restaurants (very expensive) that require reservations well in advance but there are also restaurants where you can grab a croissant and coffee or some poke. There are also the King’s and Queen’s marketplace nearby (a nice 20 min walk) that are much less expensive.
Hawai’i has a long and rich history and culture starting with the Polynesian migration between 300 AD and 800 AD. A good book to read before arriving is James A. Michener’s Hawaii. Most of all I want to welcome you to my beautiful home state where you can “talk science” at the meeting while experiencing paradise and the aloha spirit firsthand.
Mahalo nui loa for coming and sharing your wisdom,
Greg Tarlé
Registration
Please follow the link below to register for this meeting. The registration fee is $600 and includes daily lunches and coffee breaks. For accompanying persons who wish to participate in the daily lunches, the cost is an additional $380. Note: If you are supported through an ECS grant, please do not register. You still will be able to purchase a lunch-only option for accompanying persons.
Accommodation
The DESI collaboration meeting will be held at the Waikoloa Hilton on the island of Hawaii, USA. We have negotiated a special rate at the hotel, which the hotel will also honor for the three days immediately before and after the meeting. Please book through the link below once registration opens. Note: If you are supported through an ECS grant, please ONLY book additional accommodation if you plan to extend your stay beyond the funded meeting dates, i.e., prior to December 10th and after December 15th.
For more information on travel to Hawaii, the meeting program, and excursion options, please see the conference wiki page and links therein.