East-West Center

In partnership with the Consular Corps of Hawaiʻi, we had the pleasure of hosting The Honorable Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the German Bundestag. Listen to his talk to hear his insights on Germany's role in strengthening transatlantic security and addressing evolving security challenges across Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

Watch the replay: https://youtu.be/zOZfFYHGmAw

Mahalo to The Honorable Roderich Kiesewetter, the Consular Corps of Hawaiʻi, Honorary Consul Denis Salle (German Consulate General San Francisco), and all those who attended this event!

Last week, EWC President Celeste Connors met with Deputy Minister Wu and colleagues at Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss opportunities for collaboration across the Indo-Pacific.

The conversation highlighted shared priorities in economic security, leadership development, AI, energy, and strengthening partnerships. They also discussed the enduring partnership behind the Pacific Island Leadership Program (PILP) and ways to continue supporting emerging leaders across the Pacific.

Mahalo to the MOFA team for the warm hospitality and engaging discussion.

Join us at the next EWC Insights featuring Roderich Kiesewetter, member of the German Parliament!

The CRINK axis of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea has a collective goal of expanding “regional” spheres of influence. China’s approach to this, in particular, has been informed most recently by technological developments on the battlefield in Ukraine as well as the war in the Middle East.

In light of US foreign policy’s recent focus on the Indo-Pacific and the shared concern in Europe over the threat posed by China, member of German Parliament Roderich Kiesewetter discusses the critical importance of European capacity-building, particularly in developing SMART power to relieve the burden on the United States as a key transatlantic partner. Kiesewetter also argues that Europe successfully aiding Ukraine in achieving victory against Russia would not only strengthen Europe and NATO, but could also deter China in an invasion of Taiwan. Ukraine’s victory could thus serve as a positive blueprint in which freedom and self-determination prevail.

The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect East-West Center policies or positions.
Join us at the next EWC Insights featuring The Honorable Roderich Kiesewetter, member of the German Parliament on June 4 at 11am HST.

The CRINK axis of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea has a collective goal of expanding “regional” spheres of influence. China’s approach to this, in particular, has been informed most recently by technological developments on the battlefield in Ukraine as well as the war in the Middle East.

In light of US foreign policy’s recent focus on the Indo-Pacific and the shared concern in Europe over the threat posed by China, member of German Parliament Roderich Kiesewetter discusses the critical importance of European capacity-building, particularly in developing SMART power to relieve the burden on the United States as a key transatlantic partner. Kiesewetter also argues that Europe successfully aiding Ukraine in achieving victory against Russia would not only strengthen Europe and NATO, but could also deter China in an invasion of Taiwan. Ukraine’s victory could thus serve as a positive blueprint in which freedom and self-determination prevail.

The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect East-West Center policies or positions.

To register, visit: https://www.eastwestcenter.org/events/geopolitical-power-shifts-and-spheres-influence-ukraines-victory-positive-model-taiwan

We are deeply honored to receive a historic gift from the Daniel K. Inouye Institute .

Presented by DKII President Jennifer Sabas, this photograph of a Kyoto garden symbolizes the deep international friendships and diplomacy championed by the late Senator.

Senator Inouye was a founding supporter of EWC, helping position Hawai‘i as a global hub for connection and collaboration. We are proud to carry his vision forward for a peaceful Indo-Pacific.

Read more: https://www.eastwestcenter.org/news/announcement/east-west-center-receives-historic-gift-honoring-senator-daniel-k-inouye

This week, we had the pleasure to meet the US South Pacific Scholarship (USSP) participants during their trip to Washington DC to learn more about the US government and policy making.

Funded by the US Department of State and administered by the East-West Center, USSP is a competitive, merit-based scholarship program that provides opportunities for Master’s and Bachelor’s degree study at the University of Hawai‘i in fields that are directly relevant to the development needs of Pacific Island countries.

HONOLULU (May 15, 2026) – General Xavier T. Brunson, Commander of the United Nations Command (UNC), Combined Forces Command, and US Forces Korea, spoke at a private roundtable discussion at the East-West Center during a visit to Honolulu for the Land Forces Pacific Symposium last week.

His talk focused on the Korean Peninsula’s role in regional security, alliance cooperation, and the evolving security environment in the Indo-Pacific.

Throughout the discussion, Brunson emphasized the importance of partnerships, readiness, and sustained coordination among allies and partners in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Read the full news release: https://www.eastwestcenter.org/news/news-release/commander-us-and-un-forces-korea-discusses-alliance-cooperation-and-regional

Congratulations to all our recent graduates! Eighty-two students completed their awards with the East-West Center this spring, representing 27 countries, 17 US states/territories, and over 40 fields of study.

On May 7, 2026, we honored our student participants at the Ho'opuka ("passing through”) Completion Ceremony, and many of these students will receive their diplomas today at the UH Mānoa and UH Hilo graduation ceremonies.

The ceremony featured dynamic and uplifting student speakers, who shared reflections on their transformational experiences living, learning and leading at the EWC: Anita Aravena-Crellin (US/Missouri, MA Asian Int’l Affairs), Pravin Mishra (Nepal, PhD Nutrition), Benjamin Moseley (US/Louisiana, PhD History), and Dipshay Reddy (Fiji, BA Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies), along with emcee & EWCPA President Andrew Kalani Simeona (US/Hawai'i, MA Hawaiian Studies).

Congratulations to this year's Distinguished Service Award honorees — nominated entirely by their peers for contributions spanning new student orientation, student leadership, academic and cultural exchanges, and food security: Stacey Keruwa (Papua New Guinea, MS Nutrition); Helaleh Khoshkam (Iran/US, PhD Civil & Env. Engineering); Hatsuho Kinjo (Okinawa, Japan, MEd Curriculum Studies); Xiaoyun Neo (Singapore, MA Geography); Kalani Simeona; Kanako Yamakawa (Okinawa, MA Library and Information Science); and Cho-Hao “Joe” Yu (Taiwan, PhD Electrical Engineering). In the words of one nominator: "Even when things were hard, they never gave up — they continued to work on our behalf.”

Mahalo to all the students, donors, staff, family and friends for their support of East-West Center!