“Things are happening in Kakaako,” says the brochure advertising the Thursday, March 22, ThinkTech/Hawaii Venture Capital Association luncheon scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Plaza Club, 20th floor, Pioneer Plaza Building in downtown Honolulu.

“Will it be Downtown East or Condo Canyon?” asks the brochure. “Can it become a thriving live, work, learn and play community? Can earlier plans for turning it into a biomedical research campus be revived?”

Learn what’s in store for this prime neighborhood just blocks from Honolulu’s downtown business hub during two panel discussions during the luncheon. The first panel in the event entitled “Kakaako Arising!” will cover Projects and Prospects for Landowners and Developers; the second will look at Projects and Prospects by Designers and Innovators.

Panels include local leaders, including Peter Apo of OHA; Tony Ching of HCDA; Mitch D’Olier of Kaneohe Ranch; Kathy Inouye of Kobayashi Group; Paul Quintiliani of Kamehameha Schools; Wei Fang of the R&D Project; Charlie Holdaway of Holatron; Vicky Holt Takamine of Pua Alii Ilima; Jasper Wong of Powwow and Community Planner Eric Masutomi. Special guest Gov. Neil Abercrombie will give opening remarks. Moderators are Bruce Barrett of Castle & Cooke and John Ida of Urban Works.

To reserve a seat, visit hvca.org or call Gail Caveney at 382-4638. Member rate is $29; student rate is $20; and others are $39.