2024 Akamai Mentor Workshop Information Page

Friday, May 17 – Saturday, May 18, 2024

Grand Naniloa Hotel, Hilo, Hawaii

Offered by the Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators (ISEE) at University of California Observatories

Workshop and lodging location: Grand Naniloa Hotel, 93 Banyan Drive Hilo, HI 96720

  • Lodging is paid for through a group contract; we will reserve your room for the nights indicated on your workshop acceptance email. Please do not contact the hotel directly to book a room.
  • The workshop is in the Sandalwood Room, which is downstairs from the lobby.

Airport, ground transportation and parking:

  • The nearest airport is the Hilo Airport (airport code ITO). Flying to Kona (KOA) is possible, but the drive time is about two hours. Arriving in Kona is not recommended.
  • The drive time from the Hilo Airport to the hotel is about 10 minutes, and participants will need to manage their own ground transportation. There is a taxi service and ride-shares available at the airport.
  • We do not reimburse for rental cars, and they should not be needed.
  • For those driving, parking is free across Banyan Street in the big lot. There is valet parking service, but the $25 charge is not covered by ISEE.

Meals:

  • ISEE will be providing lunch and dinner on Friday, May 17, and lunch only on Saturday, May 18. 
  • Complimentary coffee and tea will be available mid-morning and afternoon. 
  • You will need to cover your own costs for meals outside of what is provided (breakfasts, meals during travel, snacks, etc.). 
  • The workshop confirmation form captures your dietary restrictions.

Workshop times:

  • Friday, May 17: 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM (dinner will be ~6:30-7:30 at hotel)
  • Saturday, May 18: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Costs, travel awards and reimbursements:

  • All participants receive workshop fee waivers
  • Hotel lodging is provided to participants who need it, and is arranged and paid for through a group contract (all rooms are paid for through a master account except any personal nights added)
  • For participants who have received a travel award for their airfare, the following process should be used:
    • Purchase your ticket by April 14, 2024
    • Purchase your ticket directly, if it is no more than 10% above what is indicated on your acceptance email
    • If your airfare is more than 10% above what is indicated on your acceptance email, please contact to us to approve the additional expense.
    • Send your airfare receipt to Nicole by Friday April 14, 2024
    • We will reimburse you after the workshop; instructions to follow
    • If you are not purchasing a ticket that matches the travel dates indicated in our acceptance email (coming early or staying late), please contact us before purchasing your ticket. There is a process, which needs to be followed in order for ISEE to reimburse you.
    • If you would like for us to purchase your ticket directly, please contact us. 

Preparing for the workshop:

  • Please bring your laptop computer
  • In early May, we will send out reading material, and a short task to be done before the workshop 
  • Bring rain gear; Hilo gets an average rainfall of 8 inches in May

    Program & Event Coordinator:

    • Nicole Mattacola can answer questions about travel, lodging, and other logistics: akamaiad@ucsc.edu

    Accessibility:

    Information about accessibility at the Naniloa Hotel is available on their amenities page. Guest rooms with ADA accessible bathrooms are available. Workshop sessions include discussions in groups of 2-8, with participants moving between groups in the Sandalwood Room, a wheelchair accessible meeting space. Please let us know if you will need accommodations to fully participate in the workshop.

    Travel companions and extra nights at hotel:

    Participants staying at the hotel will be in single rooms, and may request either a king bed or two queen beds. Travel companions are welcome, but during the workshop days, participants will be quite busy and it is hoped that participants take advantage of networking opportunities at meals and social times. The hotel will honor our group rate of $234.74 before and after the workshop, and participants may request additional nights, which they will pay for with their own funds, through the workshop confirmation form.

     

    Funding: This workshop is made possible with funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the National Science Foundation (AST#1743117)