This will be broadcast live on January 13 from http://www.olukai.com

We have written a number of articles based on “story,” – yours, mine and the collective “ours.”  Humans love a great story and we all can recall a time when we were enlightened or entertained by an excellent story-teller.  If any of you have heard of TEDx or follow the amazing short videos available online, you know the vast depth of topic and talent participating. One of my personal goals is to attend a TEDX in person. Fortunately, there are many opportunities for people in cities around the world to host their own, local version of the TEDx experience. We enjoyed TEDx Bend (Oregon) last year for the first time – and it was an exhilarating, sold-out event.

On January 13, we all have an opportunity to experience TEDX Maui, sponsored by Olukai. We’ve walked a lot of miles in our comfortable, top-notch Olukai sandals and shoes, and we’ve written numerous times about their “give back to community” company culture. It’s doubly fun to invite you all to join us in watching TEDx Maui online. Message us on Facebook if you plan to view and/or Tweet during the event. We’ll link to you.

From the Olukai website, “A live broadcast of the TEDxMaui event will be accessible through www.olukai.com with opening ceremonies beginning at 9:00 a.m. Hawaiian Standard Time / 11:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. People across the country and beyond can also follow TEDxMaui live on Twitter at @tedxmaui and participate in live conversation by using the #TEDxMaui2013 hashtag. (If you are on Twitter, using the hashtag and following live discussion is great fun.)

Similar to the mission of OluKai’s Talk Story series (an original collection of short videos and photography curated to inspire and connect people across cultures), the day-long conference will encourage global thinking and positive action with luminary speakers such as Archie Kalepa, mentor to OluKai, big-wave surfer and innovative waterman recently inducted to the Hawaii Watermen’s Hall of Fame; Alex Grey, visionary medical illustrator from Harvard Medical School whose art has been featured in Time, Newsweek, on the Discovery Channel and albums of Tool, Beastie Boys and Nirvana; Quayle Hodek, renewable energy expert named one of the ‘7 Hottest CEO’s’ by Treehugger.com and one of Red Herring’s ‘Top 25 Entrepreneurs Under 35;’ Jenelle Peterson, an inspired teacher who has taught in classrooms from Compton to Maui; and Kim Rosen, MFA, author of Saved by a Poem: The Transformative Power of Words whose work has been featured in media such as O Magazine and The New Yorker.

“OluKai is the founding partner of TEDxMaui and we are honored to continue in helping create an enduring platform for inspired thinking,” said Kerry Konrady, Director of Marketing for OluKai.

It’s all great – especially planning for the upcoming Olukai Ho’olaule’a May 11-12, 2013.