The forum will feature sessions on small business programs designed to increase contracting opportunities, national policy and legislative initiatives, and introduce business owners to large federal contractors that have an interest in small business firms.

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye will be the featured speaker June 1, while Sen. Daniel Akaka will address the forum June 2. Also scheduled to appear at the forum are U.S. Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono of Hawai'i.

The forum will feature leaders from the business community, as well as from native organizations. The panelists will include: Chris Dawson, president of the Native Hawaiian Organization Association; Barney Uhart, chief executive officer of the Chugach Alaska Corp.; Robin Puanani Danner, president of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement; and Jon DeVore, an attorney with Birch, Horton, Bittner and Cherot, which specializes in business transactions, government contracting and small business.

"The forum is designed to bring a group of leaders in the industry together to share what they are doing in the Pacific, educate ourselves on the opportunities, as well as the challenges we must overcome to further grow all small business in Hawai'i," said Billy Ornellas, NHEA vice president.