Lingle, Women and Leadership

International Women's Leadership Conference

UPDATED 8/9/11 10:30 a.m.

An international women's conference founded by Linda Lingle during her first year as governor is continuing even though she is now no longer office.

But the conference, which marks its eighth annual meeting next month in Waikiki, it still very much about Lingle.

Not only is she a featured speaker, but conference organizers include former Lingle staff members and political supporters.

And, while the conference purports to have no political ideology — as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it is prohibited from engaging in political activity — speakers at past conferences have included prominent Republicans.

The conference also comes as Lingle — the first female mayor of Maui and first female governor of Hawaii — sets her sites on becoming the first female to represent the islands in the U.S. Senate.

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