East-West Center

09/19/2026

Recently, the East-West Center hosted a timely roundtable discussion on cooperation in the Pacific with Rosemary Banks, former New Zealand Ambassador to the United States and current Director of the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Pacific Diplomatic Training Programme; Dr. Anna Powles of Massey University; and Consul-General Greg Wilcock of the Australian Consulate-General in Honolulu.

The conversation underscored a shared vision for a collaborative and resilient Pacific region, where leaders are connected and equipped to build on longstanding partnerships that address emerging opportunities and challenges, and the East-West Center as an anchor institution provides a trusted forum for cooperation.

Mahalo to the New Zealand Consulate-General in Honolulu for partnering with us on this important discussion.

09/18/2026

This week we welcomed the 2026 Korea-US Journalists Exchange to Honolulu. These 12 journalists from Korea and the United States have spent the past 10 days traveling, learning, and exchanging perspectives on the evolving US-ROK relationship.

From security cooperation and economic security to trade, investment, and regional partnerships, the exchange has provided opportunities for journalists to explore key issues shaping the relationship and discuss how media coverage can contribute to greater public understanding.

We’re grateful to this year’s cohort for their thoughtful engagement and conversations throughout the program.

09/18/2026

EWC President Celeste Connors traveled to Washington, DC to meet with senior US government officials, Congressional stakeholders, and international partners to advance collaboration on shared Indo-Pacific priorities.

From convening an Energy Security Deep Dive in partnership with US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to engaging congressional staff and the next generation of leaders through the East-West Center's Congressional Staff Program and Young Professionals Program, the visit highlighted the Center's unique role in fostering dialogue, strengthening partnerships, and translating ideas into action.

The trip also advanced collaboration on key East-West Center initiatives including the next Pacific Investment Summit, ASEAN engagement, and the US-Korean Journalists Exchange, strengthening partnerships that will support future dialogue, leadership development, and cooperation across the region.

09/18/2026

09/16/2026

09/16/2026

09/10/2026

William Jones (Assistant Professor in International Relations, Mahidol University International College) evaluates the legal and security implications of Thailand's exit and assesses UNCLOS conciliation as a mechanism for conflict resolution.

Drawing on the landmark Timor-Leste v. Australia precedent, his study demonstrates how Annex V conciliation serves as a confidential, non-confrontational circuit-breaker.

By insulating negotiators from domestic political theater, historical “Preah Vihear trauma,” and populist nationalist pressures, conciliation allows both states the time and confidential space needed to decouple offshore hydrocarbon extraction from sovereignty claims, systematically evaluate maritime baselines in the Gulf of Thailand, and establish a stable foundation for returning to mutual trust and security.

Read the full publication: https://www.eastwestcenter.org/publications/navigating-nationalism-and-regional-security-cambodia-thailand-maritime-dispute

09/10/2026

Applications are now open for the Asian Development Bank - Japan Scholarship Program!

For more information, please visit: www.EastWestCenter.org/adb

This program provides full scholarship support for Master's degree study in fields such as economics, business and management, science and technology, and other development-related fields at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

The program is perfect for you if you:
• Are a citizen and current resident of a developing member country of the Asian Development Bank and not more than 35 years old at the time of application
• Are a working professional with 2-years of experience and a 4-year bachelor's degree or the equivalent of a 4-year Bachelor's degree, at the time of application.

09/04/2026

Partnership and dialogue are at the heart of Pacific regional cooperation. At this year’s Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau, EWC connected with leaders and partners, while PIDP, as the secretariat for the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders (PICL), convened an informal PICL Talanoa to support Pacific-led discussion on shared regional priorities.

Read more: https://www.eastwestcenter.org/news/announcement/ewc-and-pidp-join-pacific-leaders-palau-strengthen-regional-partnerships

09/03/2026

The East-West Center hosted its inaugural Summer Journalism Camp this summer, bringing high school students from public and private schools across Oahu to Burns Hall.

They worked with journalism advisers, media professors, and reporters from Honolulu Civil Beat and Hawaii News Now, toured the Hawaii News Now newsroom, and covered a press conference with three East-West Center international students. In four days, they produced a seven page newspaper and three videos, all reported and written during camp.

Read the full issue: https://online.fliphtml5.com/cvabr/Summer-Journalism-Camp-2026/ =1

The Camp was co-sponsored by the Hawaii Scholastic Journalism Association, led by McKinley High School adviser and camp co-director Cindy Reves.

The Summer Journalism Camp was funded by the State of Hawaii.