Ian Kitajima

Tech Sherpa, Pacific International Center for High Technology Research - Honolulu, HI

Ian Kitajima is Co-Founder of Design Thinking Hawaii and President and CEO of PICHTR. Based in Honolulu, he works at the intersection of education, technology, entrepreneurship, business, culture, and community.

Through Design Thinking Hawaii, Ian helps students, teachers, and community partners use designthinking to understand real problems, prototype solutions, and grow as creative problem solvers. ThroughPICHTR, he supports technology commercialization, startup development, workforce readiness, and Asia-Pacific innovation partnerships that connect Hawaiʻi to broader markets and opportunities.

Ian is known as a Technology Sherpa for translating complex technologies into practical learningexperiences and pathways for action. His current work emphasizes design thinking, AI education,entrepreneurship, youth innovation, and responsible use of emerging technologies. Across bothorganizations, Ian is focused on helping Hawaii grow community-rooted innovators who can build localopportunity, strengthen resilience, and connect Hawaii as a trusted innovation bridge across the Pacific.