Three days. One incredible steno experience.

The HCRCA Aloha Steno Conference blends education, inspiration, connection, and a little island magic, starting with a sunset cruise and ending with powerful takeaways you’ll bring back to your career.

Earn 1.0 NCRA CEUs (Approval pending) while learning from world-class speakers and reconnecting with your steno community.

You need CEUs. Why not get them in Hawaii?

MEET THE SPEAKERS

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN & SCHEDULE

FRIDAY | MAY 15, 2026

📍 THE STAR OF HONOLULU CRUISE - WAIKIKI

8:30 AM
Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Sabrina McKenna

8:45 AM - 10:15 AM
Debbie Dibble - Be Your Own Advocate!

10:15 AM - 10:35 AM
Break

10:35 AM - 12:05 PM
Donna Urlaub - Word Crimes!

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (.15 CEUs)
Leah Willersdorf – Beyond the Boarding Pass: The Realities of Working Worldwide

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM – Break

3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Jason Meadors – Ethics Jeopardy!

4:45 PM – 5:00 PM – Break

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Elsa Hurtado & Jennifer Sebring – Reporting High-Profile Cases

SUNDAY | MAY 17, 2026

Welcome Sunset Dinner Cruise

Kick off the conference aboard the Star of Honolulu, Oʻahu’s premier dinner cruise. Enjoy stunning ocean views, island vibes, great food, and relaxed networking with fellow attendees and speakers. This evening is all about connection, community, and easing into an unforgettable conference weekend.

Event Details:
• Check-in Time (for those arriving on their own transportation): 4:45 PM
• Cruise Time: 5:30 to 7:30 PM
• Disembarkation: 8:20 PM to enjoy Waikīkī’s weekly fireworks display

To make your arrival seamless, we have arranged an optional private round-trip shuttle service from the Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach for $25 per person.
• Shuttle Departure from Alohilani: Approximately 4:00 PM
• Return Shuttle: Will pick up guests after disembarkation and bring you back to the hotel

Uber and Lyft are also readily available if you prefer alternative transportation.

📸 We are also excited to share that our official HCRCA photographer, Ashley Smith, will be on deck capturing special moments throughout the evening, so come ready to enjoy and be part of the memories!

Please let us know as soon as you’re able if you would like to reserve a spot on the shuttle so we can finalize arrangements. Kindly email us at hawaiireportershcrca@gmail.com or click here to contact us.

SATURDAY | MAY 16, 2026

📍 THE ALOHILANI RESORT - HONOLULU, HAWAII
🎓 0.7 CEUs (CEU APPROVED!)

📍 THE ALOHILANI RESORT - HONOLULU, HAWAII
🎓 0.3 CEUs (CEU APPROVED!)

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Whitney Kumar – From Courtroom to Camera: Knowing Your Worth

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM – Break

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Technology Power Sessions

• Jean Kim – CaseCATalyst shortcuts & workflow efficiency

• Keith Vincent – Eclipse Boost, audio & speech recognition strategies

This lineup brings decades of experience across official, freelance, realtime, international reporting, advocacy, and technology.

8:00 AM
Check-in and Continental Breakfast

12:05 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch

8:00 AM
Full Breakfast

Sabrina McKenna currently serves as the Acting Chief Justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court and has been an Associate Justice since 2011. Known for her thoughtful leadership and deep commitment to fairness in the justice system, she has spent her career advancing access to justice and strengthening the role of the courts in serving the public.

At this conference, Justice McKenna will share insights on the evolving landscape of the judiciary, the importance of accuracy and integrity in the record, and the vital role court reporters play in upholding the administration of justice. Her perspective offers a meaningful look into how collaboration within the legal community helps ensure transparency, trust, and excellence in today’s court system.

Debbie Dibble is a seasoned court reporter with nearly 40 years of experience and a former President of the National Court Reporters Association. A passionate advocate for the profession, she has played a key role in national and state leadership, including her work with the Jeopardizing Justice Coalition.

In her session, “Be Your Own Advocate!”, Debbie discusses how artificial intelligence is impacting court reporting, reviews key regulations, and shares practical strategies to help professionals effectively advocate for the value of stenographic reporting.

Donna M. Urlaub is a veteran court reporter with over five decades of experience and the owner of one of Chicago’s largest privately owned reporting agencies. A respected competitor and industry leader, she has earned numerous accolades, including a perfect 280 testimony at a national speed contest.

In her session, “Word Crimes!”, Donna brings her signature wit and expertise to highlight common language mistakes and misused idioms. Attendees will learn how to spot and correct everyday “word crimes” and strengthen their writing skills with practical, real-world insights.

Leah Willersdorf is an Australian realtime stenographer who has been based in London and working across Europe since 1995. Certified in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, she brings decades of international experience reporting across borders, cultures, and legal systems.

In her session, “Beyond the Boarding Pass: The Realities of Working Worldwide,” Leah shares what it truly means to work globally as a court reporter. From navigating cross-country travel to managing cultural and logistical challenges, she offers an honest and insightful look into the realities of international reporting.

Jason Meadors began his career as a voice reporter in the U.S. Marines and has since built a diverse path across official and freelance reporting, captioning, realtime, and software development. His work has taken him coast to coast, including Alaska and international assignments around the world.

In his sessions, “Ethics Jeopardy” and “Hot Topics in Ethics,” Jason brings an interactive and practical approach to ethics in court reporting. Through audience participation and real-world scenarios, he explores current ethical challenges and shares guiding principles, including NCRA’s COPE standards, to help professionals navigate issues with confidence.

Elsa Hurtado is a dedicated court reporter and captioner with experience serving courts, agencies, and communities across Southern California, and newly certified in Hawaiʻi.

Jennifer Sebring is a highly skilled court reporter with over a decade of experience producing precise, verbatim transcripts across trials, depositions, hearings, and grand jury proceedings, known for her accuracy and strong command of courtroom procedures.

In their session, “Reporting High-Profile Cases,” they take attendees behind the scenes of a major celebrity trial, sharing what it takes to protect the official record under intense media attention. They offer practical insight into managing fast-paced proceedings, maintaining accuracy, and staying composed when every word matters.

Whitney Kumar is a certified court reporter and the on-camera stenographer for Judy Justice. With experience as both an official and deposition reporter in California since 2006, she has handled high-profile cases within the Los Angeles Superior Court and brings a deep understanding of the full life cycle of civil litigation. She is also the co-founder of KW Court Reporting.

In her session, Whitney shares her journey from traditional courtrooms to national television, offering insight on recognizing your value, embracing new opportunities, and turning challenges into growth. Her story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when you step beyond the expected path.

Jean Kim is a freelance court reporter licensed in California, Nevada, and Texas, with extensive experience covering depositions, hearings, and trials. As a Certified Independent Training Agent with Stenograph, she provides both in-person and remote training on CaseCATalyst software for reporters at all levels.

Keith L. Vincent has been a software trainer since 1992 and a Texas Certified Shorthand Reporter since 1993. His career has taken him around the world, leading Eclipse workshops across the U.S. and Europe and reporting in high-level international settings.

In their training sessions, Jean and Keith will guide attendees through essential tools and techniques in CaseCATalyst and Eclipse. Topics include keyboard shortcuts, text entry efficiencies, audio integration, and speech recognition strategies to improve translation accuracy and overall performance.