Grit keynotes in Honolulu, where the Pacific row ended
Hawaii is where Paris’s 4,800 km row across the Pacific Ocean ended in 2023, and where he went on to live for three months. Honolulu is part of his story.
The finish line of the Pacific
Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii and the largest city in the islands. Pearl Harbor, home to a major US naval base, sits just to the west.
Paris’s only US clients were in Hawaii: Surf Break, and the US military at Pearl Harbor, where he delivered a keynote on grit, resilience and leadership
For island audiences, the story of 39 days on the Pacific is not abstract. It is their ocean, and the lessons on purpose, adapting the plan and keeping a clear head under pressure translate straight to work.
Who Paris speaks to in Honolulu
Military commands
Leadership and resilience keynotes; Paris has spoken for the US Army at Fort Shafter.
Hotels and tourism
Talks for the visitor economy, from leadership teams to front-line staff.
Marine and conservation
The Pacific row raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Conferences
Main-stage keynotes for groups meeting in Honolulu.
Where Honolulu meets
The Hawaii Convention Center hosts international meetings across the year, alongside military, hospitality and incentive events.
- Hawaii Convention Center – near Waikiki on Kalākaua Avenue
- Waikiki resort ballrooms – along the island’s south shore
Ways to book Paris in Honolulu
The Grit Code keynote (45–60 min) · Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day) · virtual keynote (30–45 min) · event host and MC. Compare formats →
Tested at sea, on the ice and on stage
7 marathons, 7 continents
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Rowed the Pacific
4,800 km in 2023, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Watch the Pacific row film and read the Fort Shafter recap. US Army at Fort Shafter recap · 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film
Past events in Honolulu
- US Army at Fort Shafter: Grit Keynote – September 2025 · Honolulu, Hawaii
Speaking in Honolulu, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Honolulu, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book US speakers three to five months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
See also keynote speaker in the USA, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Honolulu’s economy and who the talk is for
Honolulu has a population of about 350,964 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Businesses with their headquarters in Honolulu include Matson, Inc. (shipping line), Alexander & Baldwin (conglomerate), Bank of Hawaii (finance) and Hawaiian Telcom (telecommunications industry).
Aviation, transport and logistics (Matson, Inc.). Aviation, transport and logistics teams work around the clock and against the clock. Paris has spoken for DHL and Dubai Airports, and his record-breaking marathon challenge, run to a tight timetable across seven continents, is a natural fit for operations audiences.
Banking and financial services (Bank of Hawaii). Banking and finance audiences respond to evidence. Paris frames grit as a measurable habit rather than a personality trait, and links it to the pressure of targets, regulation and market swings that finance teams face every quarter.
Telecoms (Hawaiian Telcom). Telecoms businesses run networks that can never stop. Paris has spoken for Nokia, and his message on steady, disciplined effort under pressure suits network, sales and customer teams alike.
Other large venues in Honolulu
For bigger audiences and set-piece events, Honolulu venues include Stan Sheriff Center and King David Kalakaua Building.
Paris is comfortable on any stage, from an arena to a boardroom, and can also host the main stage as MC. Event host and MC →
How a Grit Code session works
- Paris starts with a short briefing call to understand the room, the sector and the challenge in front of it.
- The keynote uses film from his expeditions and TV work to make each idea concrete.
- Many organisers pair it with a Grit Deconstruction workshop or ask Paris to host the full day.
The content is shaped around Honolulu organisations and their goals, so the room hears examples that match its own challenges. Paris presents as an adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.
Where the talk fits in Honolulu
These are typical Honolulu events for The Grit Code:
- Annual company conferences and town halls.
- Change and transformation programmes, including AI adoption.
- Safety, wellbeing and performance days for operations teams.
- Charity dinners and community events, which Paris knows well as an ambassador for Gulf for Good.
Credentials at a glance
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
US clients, only in Hawaii
Paris’s only clients in the United States were in Hawaii: Surf Break, and the US military at Pearl Harbor. Do not read a US city page outside Hawaii as a claim that he has already spoken there — those pages are for organisers who want to book him.
Hawaii also closes his 7 marathons on 7 continents story: Miami was the final marathon city, and the 2023 Pacific row came ashore on Kauai. He is CEO of Blazing Sand Studios.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Honolulu?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in Honolulu, in person or virtually.
Has Paris spoken in Honolulu before?
Yes. His only US clients were in Hawaii: Surf Break, and the US military at Pearl Harbor.
How far ahead should we book a Honolulu event?
Organisers typically book US speakers three to five months ahead, though it is always worth asking about sooner dates.
Why is Hawaii special to Paris?
His 4,800 km Pacific row ended in Hawaii in 2023, and he lived there for three months afterwards.
Which Honolulu industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Honolulu it suits aviation, transport and logistics, banking and financial services and telecoms audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Honolulu?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the keynote’s ideas into team habits and actions.
Can the keynote be delivered online for teams in Honolulu?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences, delivered in your local time zone.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
Bring grit to your next Honolulu event
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More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact