For its annual conference, the West O'ahu Economic Development Association typically focuses on one theme.

Last year, for instance, the issue was on job centers.

But with the 'Ewa-Kapolei region booming at an accelerated clip, the one-tract concept gets thrown out, said association president Keith Yoshida.

"There are a lot of businesses moving out there and the state is developing as well," Yoshida said. "We felt this was a good opportunity to put all of this together in one place."

So this year's conference will run through both breakfast and lunch and is packed with feature sessions on commercial projects, residential development and even a segment on the trend of major O'ahu nonprofits moving its service centers westward.

Gov. Linda Lingle, the keynote speaker, will discuss some of the major government initiatives in the area, including the development of Department of Hawaiian Home Lands residential and commercial projects, road construction improvements, the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu campus, redevelopment of Kalaeloa and a new judiciary building.

Representatives from Gentry Homes, Brookfield Homes Hawaii and the controversial D.R. Horton Schuler Division proposal will be featured in a separate panel to discuss their project plans.

Jeff Arce of the MacNaughton Group will talk about the upcoming Kapolei Commons shopping project. The complex on the western end of Kapolei is expected to include one of Hawai'i's first two Target stores.

Also on tap are officials with four nonprofit organizations who have moved west or are in the midst of major projects — Easter Seals Hawaii, the Salvation Army, Hale Kipa and Goodwill Industries.

"These are all going to be huge job opportunities for the people out there," Yoshida said.

About 200 people are expected to attend the conference, which is co-sponsored by Enterprise Honolulu.

Gentry Homes official Debbie Luning, who is helping to organize the event, said it will be a good opportunity for anyone with a stake in West O'ahu to learn about the planned projects.

"I think there's a huge contingent of people who live and work in Honolulu, who don't realize the significant changes that are happening on the west side," Luning said.

Yoshida said that's the reason the association chose, after much discussion, to hold this year's conference at Honolulu Country Club, just outside Honolulu, instead of at Ko Olina as in past years.

"We wanted to find a venue or location that would enable many people to participate," he said. "Sometimes the venue is too far for people to dedicate that amount of time because it's almost a whole day. We didn't want that to be a reason why people couldn't attend."

The association was created in 2001 and is made up of about 75 businesses and organizations focused on stimulating the West O'ahu economy and creating more jobs in the region.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.