The ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2024)

Welcome to CHI 2024!

The ACM (Association of Computing Machinery) CHI conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems is the premier international conference of Human-Computer Interaction.

CHI (pronounced “kai”) takes place in Honolulu, at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA from 11-16 May 2024, while also supporting remote attendance.

The conference embraces the theme of Surfing the World – reflecting the focus on pushing forth the wave of cutting-edge technology and riding the tide of new developments in human-computer interaction. The conference serves as a platform for researchers, practitioners, and industry leaders to share their latest work and ideas and to foster collaboration and innovation in the field. Attendees will Surf the World of technology by engaging in keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and other interactive sessions focusing on the latest developments and trends in the field. The conference’s location, known for its beautiful beaches and world-class surf spots, adds a unique and inspiring setting for attendees to come together and exchange ideas to open global access to CHI. The CHI conference is the premier event in the field and Surfing the World represents its commitment to inviting everyone to explore and advance the frontiers of human-computer interaction.

It is with profound reflection that we offer up this Land Acknowledgement, acknowledging Hawaiʻi as an indigenous space whose original people are today identified as Kanaka ‘Ōiwi – Native Hawaiians. The ʻāina of Kaʻākaukukui on which we will gather is located in the ahupuaʻa of Waikiki, in the moku of Kona, on the mokupuni of Oʻahu, in the paeʻāina of Hawaiʻi. We recognize that her majesty Queen Liliʻuokalani yielded the Hawaiian Kingdom and these territories under duress and protest to the United States to avoid the bloodshed of her people. We further recognize that generations of indigenous Hawaiians and their knowledge systems shaped Hawaiʻi in a sustainable way that allows us to enjoy her gifts today. For this, we are grateful as guests. We seek to support the varied strategies that the Indigenous peoples of Hawai‘i are using to protect their land and their communities, and we commit to dedicating time and resources to working in solidarity. Mahalo.

See you at CHI 2024!

CHI in Hawaiʻi

Thank you very much for reading this text. We want you to know that we hear the people who have reached out to us and we are listening. Let us begin by saying that we are deeply saddened by the devastating wildfires that have brought tragedy and loss of life to Maui. That is why we implore the CHI community to rally behind the people of Maui and extend their support to organizations that aid. There are many organizations you can support. Here are some of our favorites as starting point for you to make your own decision:

• Maui Strong: Hawai’i Community Foundation
• The Maui Food Bank is still providing distribution of food to the community.
• Our Kupuna dedicates support to elderly communities in Hawaii, coordinating deliveries of necessities to vulnerable individuals.
• The Maui Humane Society provides pet supplies, emergency kits, and care for sick, injured, and lost pets.
• Many other non-profit supporting organizations are listed by the Obama Foundation and the County of Maui Website.

The wildfires have brought up in many people’s minds the question of why CHI’24 is in Hawai’i and how/whether to travel there and why the paper submission opening coincided with the wildfires. In particular, we have heard from HCI people voicing concerns about CHI’24 taking place in Hawai’i, not just now as in response to the wildfires, but also before, when the location was discussed as early as 2016 (we believe). There is a lot to consider and we appreciate the time from everyone who helped compile this text.

These concerns appear to be focussed on (1) Indigenous self-determination and legacies of settler colonialism, (2) climate change and carbon emissions, and (3) cost.

These economic, climate and Indigenous justice issues are important to all of us, and being part of a discipline that both researches and elevates them and their intersections we see the opportunity to address these issues as a privilege. Thus, we appreciate the fact that people took the time to reach out to us and the opportunity to write this text.

We take the opportunity to address some of these (and additional) considerations one by one, although it is acknowledged that they are interconnected.

Location

The decision on where CHI will be held is made by the SIGCHI Executive Committee and the CHI Steering Committee (the Executive Committee sets the broad direction and values, the Steering Committee evaluates sites, and the Executive Committee approves the final recommendation) with contracts, etc. signed by the ACM up to 4+ years in advance. Only then, (up to two years before the conference), is the organizing team selected (which for CHI’24 was through an open call). As such, no one on the organizing committee “selected” the location. That said, we take responsibility for CHI’24 and aim to create an engaging conference experience that aims to consider the wellbeing of all the respective parties, that includes the CHI family but also the local community. We do this by aiming to take into account the real costs for everyone involved as well as the inherent responsibilities in proceeding, especially in terms of climate action and attention to the wishes and wellbeing of the sovereign people of Hawai’i.