This story was originally posted on Jan. 16 on UH News.
The state of Hawaiʻi and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa became the epicenter of global innovation, hosting two high-profile conferences that drew over 1,500 researchers from around the world.
The 8th Hawaiʻi Accounting Research Conference (HARC) and the 58th Hawaiʻi International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) brought together some of the brightest minds in accounting and digital technology to exchange ideas, tackle challenges, and push the boundaries of their respective fields.
HARC 2025
From January 3–5, more than 335 participants gathered at UH Mānoa for HARC. Hosted by the School of Accountancy at the Shidler College of Business, the conference featured 11 sessions over three days. A total of 411 papers were submitted for consideration, with 245 papers accepted and registered for presentation. Additionally, 175 global and national universities were represented among 17 countries.
“In just eight years, HARC has firmly established itself as one of the top three most impactful accounting research conferences globally,” said Hamid Pourjalali, conference chair, A. Don Corbin Distinguished Professor of Accounting and director of the UH Mānoa School of Accountancy. “The conference provides a unique platform for scholars worldwide to exchange ideas, build collaborations and contribute to advancing accounting research. With intellectually rigorous presentations and vibrant discussions, HARC fosters a stimulating environment where participants can share insights, receive constructive feedback and further refine their work.”
From its inaugural conference with 168 attendees and 89 accepted papers, the event has more than doubled in size, demonstrating its growing influence and appeal within the academic community. HARC2026 is scheduled for January 3 to 6 at UH Mānoa.
HICSS 2025
HICSS, held January 7–10, welcomed over 1,200 researchers, scientists and academics to the Hilton Waikoloa Village. There were 1,516 research papers submitted, and 736 were selected for presentations.
Attendees participated in symposia, workshops and tutorials on topics such as responsible AI, quantum computing, data analytics and governance, information security, and ICT integration in healthcare. These sessions complemented the expansive research papers, which span over 7,500 pages and delve into theoretical, conceptual, and practical dimensions of digital transformation.
“As a leading international forum, HICSS brings together a multidisciplinary community of scientists dedicated to advancing system sciences and their impact on business, government and society,” said Tung Bui, conference chair and Matson Navigation Company Distinguished Professor of Global Business. “From exploring responsible AI to fostering equitable technological solutions, the research and dialogue at this year’s conference reflect the innovation and rigor that define HICSS as a premier platform for advancing system sciences worldwide.”
A highlight of HICSS 2025 was the exploration of the “intelligence horizon” in keynotes by thought leaders from OpenAI and Meta. Discussions centered on advancements in AI and the progression toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), which promise to reshape the global hardware industrial base into collaborative innovation ecosystems, paving the way for the next decade of digital transformation.
HICSS sponsors include the Shidler College of Business, National Security Agency, Association for Information Systems and MyEducator. HICSS 2026 is slated for January 6 to 9 at the Hyatt Regency Maui.
