Rd 5

1)      Hawaiian should be THE official language of Hawaii.

2)      THW require the U.S. military members pay reparations for land contamination to the Native Hawaiian community in the form of increased taxes.

3)      THW promote a policy similar to Hawaii’s 55 by 25 plan nationally.

Info slide: Hawaii’s 55 by 25 plan was an effort to increase the number of working age citizens with a post-secondary degree or certificate to 55% by 2025.

4)      TH, as Japan, would build a conventional military

5)      TH rejects the narrative that China is in opposition to the U.S.

ROUND 4

1)      THBT economic inequality is a greater cause of political polarization than partisan identity

2)      TH as Nato would remove the U.S. from the alliance

3)      THR the use of drones in military operations.

4)      TH as a skilled immigrant would not enter the United States

5)      THS violent protest.

ROUND 3

1) INFO SLIDE:“The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of physical devices, vehicles, appliances, and other physical objects that are embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity, allowing them to collect and share data. IoT devices—also known as “smart objects”—can range from simple “smart home” devices like smart thermostats, to wearables like smartwatches and RFID-enabled clothing, to complex industrial machinery and transportation systems” - IBM

This house regrets the Internet of Things.

2)  THBT the commercialization of scientific research has done more harm than good.

3) THBT art cannot be separated from the artist.

4)TH supports Meta’s decision to remove end-to-end encryption from its major platforms.

5)THW institute a policy where AI data centers are required to pay a premium for resources that is at least 10X that of an individual or local business. 

ROUND 2

1)      THW recognize Iran as a legitimate regional hegemon in the Middle East.

2)      THR the West’s pattern of favoring regime change over diplomatic engagement with Iran.

3)      THW establish a formal multilateral security framework that includes Iran as a founding member.

4)      This house would support “regime-altering” foreign policy over “regime change” foreign policy. (info slide: regime altering is the Trump administration tactic of removing a leader of a hostile nation from power to install one willing to cooperate with the US regardless of democratic standing or democracy-oriented group support.

5) TH, as the USFG should immediately  and completely pull out of the conflict with Iran.

ROUND 1:

1)  THW prohibit non-Hawaiian citizens from holding public office in the state of Hawaii.

2) THW impose a hard annual cap on the number of tourists permitted to enter Hawaii.

3) THR tourism economy.

4) THS a two-tiered pricing system in major tourist locations.

5) Info Slide: A two-tiered pricing system is a model in which two distinct prices are charged for the same good or service based on the identity of the consumer, most commonly distinguishing between local residents and foreign tourists.

THW grant legal personhood to the Hawaiian coral reef ecosystem, giving it standing to sue in federal court through appointed indigenous guardians.

Aloha all,

The Hawaiʻi Pacific University Debate Society and the Department of Arts, Communication, Languages, and Media are excited to invite you to the 2026 Pan Pacific Debate Championship at Hawaiʻi Pacific University on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22. This annual event is a great opportunity for students of all backgrounds. 

PanPac exists as a celebration of communication in the Pacific region, as an exercise in the art of public speaking and persuasion, and as an example of cross-cultural collaboration. Whether you have competed at PanPac before or this will be your first time attending, we hope to see you there!

Mahalo!

Kaikane Glorioso

Lecturer and Debate Coach

SCHEDULE

Saturday, March 21

Check In: 8:00 AM

Opening Announcements: 8:30 AM

Round 1: 9:00 AM

Round 2: 11:00 AM

Lunch: 1:00 PM

Round 3: 2:00 PM

Sunday, March 22

Check In: 8:00 AM

Round 4: 8:30 AM

Round 5: 10:30 AM

Lunch: 12:30 PM

Semifinals: 1:30 PM

Grand Finals: 3:15 PM

Awards: 4:45 PM

REGISTRATION

There is a $75 per team registration fee for this event. The judge commitment per university is N-1, with a minimum of one judge. Please let us know during the registration process which judges are eligible to be chairs. All competitor and judge registration will take place here: https://forensicstournament.net/PanPacific/26

UPDATE: The link for submitting your registration fee will be available soon and will be emailed to the point of contact on your Forensics Tournament Account.

LOCATION INFORMATION

HPU is located in downtown Honolulu, and all rounds will take place at our Aloha Tower Marketplace campus (1 Aloha Tower Dr.). Please report to Multi-Purpose Room 3 (MPR-3) for check in and main hall. All round announcements will take place here.

FOOD, LODGING, AND PARKING

Lunch will be provided on both days of the event. Breakfast and dinner will not be included in this, please plan for those separately. Please check back here for more information on specific lunch details as they become available.

UPDATE: We are evaluating options for lodging, but have not yet been able to secure a hotel block. We ask that you plan accordingly for lodging separate from a hotel block. The Ala Moana and Waikiki areas are a roughly 10-15 minute drive from the university and have many options near popular attractions. We will continue to post updates here as new information becomes available.

Partial parking validation will be provided on both days of the event. Please park at the Pier 5 & 6 parking lot, about a 5 minute walk from the competition rooms. This validation will cover the first hour for free, and $2 per hour up to the 6th hour.

Information is subject to change. Please reach out to us for any questions or concerns. We look forward to seeing you in Honolulu!