Time flies when you’re geeking out. It’s time to think ahead to the next Manoa Geeks! I think we’re all hungry for a chance to immerse ourselves in a room full of fun, brilliant people to share ideas, show off our latest projects, and catch up. Once again we’re blessed to have a host with an eye for technology and great space for talkstory… plus, free parking!

Hopefully this note reaches you early enough to mark your calendars and to start collecting cool links and things to share. If you’ve got something you want to demo, let me know ASAP — we’ll have demos this time, I promise! Many of us will be fresh out of SXSW with great stories to tell. Please invite your friends! I’ll send another reminder a week or so before the meetup as well.

Date: Thursday, March 26
Time: 6:30pm
Location: The Honolulu Advertiser (605 Kapiolani Blvd.)

General Overview:

• Introductions: A quick zip around the room!
• Presentations: Have something to demo or announce? Get in touch!
• Eat, Drink & Talk Story
• Guided Discussion: What’s going on in the web world?
• More Talk Story!

About Our Host:

The Honolulu Advertiser is proud to be a part of the wave of social media with more than 40 blogs, including the popular “The Warrior Beat” by Stephen Tsai, The Honolulu Advertiser encourages readers to share and participate daily online. Readers have immediate access to social tools, including a profile page, personal blog, a GetPublished feature to post a story or photo, and the ability to share messages with friends and family.

The young and dedicated online staff stays on top of the latest technologies and delivers news and information when and how you want it. They’ve got you covered with their mobile editions, text and email alerts, RSS feeds and eight Twitter profiles, from @honadv to @honadvsports.

Adding to The Advertiser’s broad base of coverage, Metromix keeps Hawaii up to date on what’s hot and happening tonight and every night. From charity gigs like the Honolulu Twestival to the hippest clubs and underground raves, Metromix is plugged in and keeping you in the know. Follow @metromix808 and @metromixit_hnl for up-to-the-minute event news and venue and restaurant reviews.

Special thanks to John Garcia (@johngarcia) for connecting us!

An ambitious plan is in the works to build an Interactive Digital Arts Center in Chinatown.  The center would have state-of-the-art computer equipment, a recording studio, and other resources to allow digital artists, tech businesses and knowledge workers, software engineers and educators to collaborate, brainstorm, and create.

The Interactive Digital Arts Center is the brainchild of the Hawaii Arts Alliance, and its leadership is reaching out to Hawaii’s tech and entrepreneurial sector to better understand what we’d want and need in such a center.

“[We] want your opinions and brainstorming ideas on the specific part relating to technology developers, product creation, using digital media to package and market products and services, and how best this type of center could act as an incubator for these things,” says Rachel Ogdie, executive director of HiBEAM.

They’ll be hosting a brainstorming lunch on Thursday, Feb. 12 at the Waikiki Yacht Club. They’ll feed you in exchange for your opinions on what an Interactive Digital Arts Center should be.  Since this center is being built, in part, for the kinds of talented and creative people that come to Manoa Geeks, I hope you’ll consider participating.

If you’d like to be there, please RSVP to Kathleen Watanabe by Monday, Feb. 10!

UPDATE: Thanks for stepping up! They’ve got a full table for their lunch. But feel free to comment or contact them directly to share your feedback anytime.