The Honolulu Defense Forum (HDF) is an annual strategic conference that brings together senior military leaders, policymakers, industry executives, and international partners to advance practical solutions that strengthen readiness and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.

HDF 2027 will take place January 19–20, 2027, in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, with an opening reception on January 18.

HDF convenes a select group of participants from across the United States and allied and partner nations, including:

• Senior government and military leaders
• Defense and technology industry executives
• Venture capital and investment leaders
• Policy experts and thought leaders

Participation in HDF is by invitation. If you are interested in attending, you may request more information through our website. All requests are reviewed based on alignment with the Forum’s objectives and available capacity.

Registration details will be shared directly with invited participants. Access levels and participation may vary depending on attendee category and sponsorship.

The theme for HDF 2027 is “Operationalizing Solutions.” The Forum will focus on real-world implementation—highlighting what is working, identifying barriers, and accelerating practical solutions to strengthen Indo-Pacific security.

HDF 2027 will focus on key areas including:

• Delivering combat power forward
• Coalition interoperability and integration
• Defense industrial base and production capacity
• AI, data, and decision advantage
• Supply chain and economic investment and resilience

HDF is an in-person event that features a mix of plenary sessions, executive discussions, and smaller invitation-only roundtables designed to encourage candid dialogue and practical outcomes. Most sessions are held under the Chatham House Rule, with select sessions on the record.

Media participation is by invitation. To learn more about press attendance, please visit our media page or contact Shanna at shanna@pacforum.org.

Yes. HDF includes receptions, policy dinners, and smaller gatherings designed to facilitate meaningful engagement among participants.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for organizations seeking to engage with senior leaders across government, industry, and allied partners. Please contact us for more information on sponsorship packages.

For any questions, please contact:
Kimberly Lehn
Senior Director, Honolulu Defense Forum

hdfsponsorship@pacforum.org

HDF is hosted by Pacific Forum, a Honolulu-based, non-profit, non-partisan foreign policy research institute with deep engagement across the U.S. interagency and allied and partner governments. To learn more about Pacific Forum, please visit pacforum.org.

For general inquiries and participation requests please contact:

HDF@pacforum.org