A globally respected historian from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 has earned one of the highest honors in her field, recognizing decades of scholarship that reshaped how the world understands Southeast Asia.

Professor emerita Barbara Watson Andaya received the from the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), a leading international organization dedicated to advancing research and teaching on Asia.

Andaya is widely known for her work on early modern Southeast Asia. Over the course of her career, her research has significantly influenced how historians interpret the region鈥檚 history and cultural development.

“Professor Barbara Andaya has been a true academic treasure to 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 during her career, and we are absolutely delighted to see her hard work and devotion recognized by our international association,” said Miriam Stark, director of the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 .

Early Path

Known to many as “Barb,” Andaya grew up in Sydney, Australia. With parents involved in science and academia, she developed an early interest in education and research. She earned degrees in history and education from the University of Sydney and began her professional career as a high school teacher.

A shift in curriculum eventually brought her to 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, where she completed her master鈥檚 degree in Southeast Asian history as an East-West Center fellow. She later joined the faculty and was promoted to full professor in 1996.

Research Impact

Her scholarly expertise centers on the Malay-Indonesian world. Since 2014, she has published more than 30 works, including , which was recognized as an outstanding academic title. She also served as director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies from 2000 to 2006.

糖心Vlog官方 Press Honors

The recognition comes alongside additional accolades tied to 糖心Vlog官方. Two titles from the books, and , received 2026 Association for Asian Studies prizes.

Deep cultural ties between Hawaiʻi and French Polynesia were highlighted during French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson鈥檚 visit to the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 on February 25.

While in Honolulu for , hosted by the East-West Center, Brotherson made time to connect with 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, including a visit to the library鈥檚 internationally recognized collections.

Pacific Collection librarians Eleanor Kleiber and Stu Dawrs, along with Hawaiian Collection Librarian and department chair Jodie Mattos, showcased rare and historic materials related to French Polynesia. Items included: 18th-century works from Captain Cook鈥檚 voyages, 1844 correspondence from the Queen of Tahiti to King Kamehameha III, signed editions of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Story by Queen Liliʻuokalani, and two editions of Brotherson鈥檚 own novel, Le Roi absent (The Missing King).

“It was an honor to welcome President Brotherson, and a joy for us to share items from our collections that highlight the historical and cultural connections between Hawaiʻi and French Polynesia,” said Kleiber. “He seemed to appreciate seeing these items our library has curated to represent the strong connections between our islands.”

University Librarian Clem Guthro added, “Our collections are vast, global and contain a multitude of treasures that support research, scholarship and teaching. Welcoming visitors from abroad to our collections extends their global reach. 糖心Vlog官方ors like President Brotherson become our ambassadors; sharing their experiences with our library when they return home, and knowing we are a resource to them.”

Brotherson has served as president since 2023 and is known for promoting sustainable development, cultural preservation and regional cooperation across the Pacific.

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As Hawaiʻi faces rising sea levels, housing pressures and growing calls for the return of to community stewardship, the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 will host a day of bold conversations focused on solutions. On March 4, the annual at 8 a.m. at East West Center will gather leaders, scholars and community advocates to examine how land, law and justice intersect and what that means for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 future.

Now in its fifth year, the summit carries the theme ʻĀinahoʻi: Land, Law and Justice. ʻĀinahoʻi means “indeed that which feeds us.” The phrase is both reminder and call to action that the future of Hawaiʻi is tied to how we care for the ʻ腻颈苍补 that sustains us.

“We established the Piʻo Summits to advance ancestral knowledge and courageous leadership to address the cascading challenges of our times,” said Kamanamaikalani Beamer, professor at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 and the . “Hawaiʻi deserves the best and the Piʻo Summits bring critical issues to the head of our table and we sit with the community to find ways to carve out a better future.”

Voices for ʻ腻颈苍补

This year鈥檚 summit begins with music from two-time Grammy nominee Raiatea Helm and a keynote from Justice Joe Williams of Aotearoa, a respected M膩ori jurist known for advancing Indigenous rights within modern legal systems.

Throughout the day, panels will feature leaders from Hawaiʻi鈥檚 largest landholders serving Native Hawaiian communities, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Kanaka ʻ艑iwi (Native Hawaiian) advocates will join scholars and professors from 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 and departments, as well as the William S. Richardson School of Law, to explore the future of ʻ腻颈苍补 stewardship and justice in Hawaiʻi.

“This year鈥檚 summit will highlight the collective effort for ʻĀinahoʻi across the ,” Beamer said. “We will be exploring how communities are navigating and challenging existing systems through legal methods, land trusts, and grassroots action to restore , strengthen relationships to ʻ腻颈苍补, and advance self-determined governance grounded in ancestral innovation and courageousness.”

Ancestral innovation

The summit is organized by Pōʻai Ke Aloha ʻ膧ina, a 糖心Vlog官方-based lab that works to solve modern challenges using ʻike Hawaiʻi (ancestral Hawaiian knowledge). The lab is helping build a new center focused on an ancestral circular economy, a model rooted in regeneration and long-term stewardship.

The welcomed 185 archivists and cultural heritage professionals from 35 countries September 8–11 for the first Hawaiʻi-based joint conference of the and the , held at the East-West Center.

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: Global conference to tackle climate change, media preservation, February 11, 2025

Centered on the theme “A Loss of Place,” the gathering examined how climate change transforms landscapes, challenges cultural identities, and impacts media preservation, with international partners including UNESCO, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, and national archives and libraries worldwide.

糖心Vlog官方 President Wendy Hensel opened the conference at the Imin International Conference Center. “In Hawaiʻi and across the Pacific, we know that there are significant challenges with climate change, the fight for cultural identity, and amplifying voices that, too often, go unheard,” she said. “The work that you do in preserving those voices, protecting and sharing these stories, ensures that memory endures and that wisdom is not lost.”

糖心Vlog官方 leadership, systemwide support

糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Library and Information Sciences program and the were among the conference鈥檚 financial sponsors. and faculty played key roles in planning, and presenters and volunteers came from across the 糖心Vlog官方 System and Hawaiʻi.

Participants took part in a workshop at the at 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu, toured , and explored Hamilton Library鈥檚 Asia, Hawaiian, Pacific, and University Archives collections. They also visited key cultural sites, including Bishop Museum, the Jaku鈥檃n Japanese Tea House at the East-West Center, and the .

“I thought it was a great opportunity to bring people here to showcase the library and our collections, and also focus on Hawaiʻi and the Pacific,” said David Rowntree, digital preservation librarian at Hamilton Library and local organizing chair.

University Librarian Clem Guthro added: “We are a major research university, and we鈥檙e doing work that isn鈥檛 being done elsewhere in the world. Having conference attendees experience 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 and Hawaiʻi allows our work to be known and our reputation enhanced.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 has once again been recognized for its natural beauty, this time by House Beautiful magazine. 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 ranked among the “40 Most Stunning College Campuses in the World,” landing at No. 27 on the list.

the feature praised universities worldwide for their architecture, history and inspiring settings, from ivy-covered walls to sleek modern designs.

“These locations are nothing short of extraordinary鈥hey create an atmosphere of inspiration, creativity, and culture that elevates the student experience,” the article noted.

The magazine highlighted the East-West Center Japanese garden, adjoining Imin Center and Jefferson Hall as one of the campus鈥檚 most breathtaking features.

糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 was also recently named one of America鈥檚 most beautiful college campuses by Travel + Leisure magazine in its June issue.

Recent rankings

In case you missed it, 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 also received these notable rankings:

• The Best 391 Colleges by The Princeton Review, August 13, 2025
• 2025 World University Rankings for Innovation, July 24, 2025
• 2026 QS World University Rankings, June 19, 2025
• 2025 Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings, June 2, 2025
• 2025 Carnegie Classifications, April 24, 2025

Celeste A. Connors was selected by the (EWC) Board as the institution鈥檚 next president, effective July 1. A Hawaiʻi-raised leader with more than 25 years of global experience in risk management, diplomacy, national security and development policy, Connors brings a deep understanding of both international affairs and regional priorities to the role.

Connors is a recognized international leader with more than 25 years of risk management and national security experience. As a former director on both the National Security Council and the National Economic Council under both Republican and Democratic administrations, she chaired complex interagency processes and advised White House leaders on energy, trade, environment and technology strategies. She previously gained extensive foreign policy experience while serving as a U.S. diplomat in Saudi Arabia, Greece, Germany and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and as Foreign Policy Adviser to the Mayor of New York City.

In recent years, Connors has led the internationally recognized center of excellence Hawaiʻi Green Growth, where she developed policy and investment solutions to help build resilient communities. She is also co-founder of c.dots development LLC, and the co-chair of the Local2030 Islands Network, a group of 45 island economies focused on building a safer, more resilient future.

Connors has an extensive background in corporate and nonprofit governance, including serving on the boards of Hawaiian Electric Industries, the state鈥檚 primary electricity provider, and the Hawaiʻi 糖心Vlog官方ors and Convention Bureau. She also co-chairs the Hawaiʻi Sustainability Business Forum, which brings together the CEOs of the state鈥檚 top public and private companies.

She has served in academia as a faculty lecturer and practitioner with the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, where she led a practicum program focused on risk management. In addition, she has been an adjunct senior fellow with EWC since 2021, when Hawaiʻi Green Growth entered a formal partnership with the center to collaborate on sustainable development initiatives.

“I鈥檓 deeply honored and excited to lead the East-West Center team in continuing to advance regional cooperation,” said Connors. “Strategically based in the Pacific Ocean, the EWC plays a critical role in supporting U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific region through convening, expert dialogue, educational exchange, and people-to-people connections. In Hawaiʻi and beyond, we seek to support security and prosperity by promoting leadership and partnerships around our shared interests and values.”

Connors holds a master鈥檚 degree in development studies from the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies and an undergraduate degree in international relations from Tufts University.

Her appointment concludes an extensive search to succeed outgoing Interim President James K. Scott, the former EWC board chair who has been serving in the presidential post temporarily since the beginning of this year.

“Ms. Connors was selected from an impressive applicant pool of talented and experienced individuals,” said EWC Board of Governors Chairman John Waiheʻe. “We feel strongly that her breadth of leadership experience across government, civil society, academia and business sectors is exactly what the center requires to carry our mission and legacy forward to a bright new future at this pivotal time in our institution鈥檚 proud 65-year history.”

Read more on the .

The University of Hawaiʻi hosted WICHE鈥檚 biannual meeting on November 14–15 at the East-West Center, convening leaders from 16 states and Pacific jurisdictions to tackle higher education and workforce challenges. Hawaiʻi students saved $27.7 million in the 2023–24 academic year through 鈥檚 (WICHE) tuition savings programs, which also brought more than 4,000 out-of-state students to study in Hawaiʻi.

As a WICHE member, Hawaiʻi students can receive discounted tuition at many institutions and programs throughout the West. And through WICHE, 糖心Vlog官方 offers discounted tuition for some out-of-state students, diversifying its student body while boosting Hawaiʻi‘s economy. 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 welcomed the most out-of-state students through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program (3,350), followed by 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo (363) and 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu (11).

Meeting highlights

The commission meeting previewed WICHE鈥檚 11th edition of its Knocking at the College Door analysis, set to be released December 11 (). The report and online dashboards include national-, regional- and state-level data and analyses about high school graduate projection numbers, offering critical insights for policymakers, educational leaders, and other decision-makers to address enrollment shifts and workforce needs.

Discussions focused on the growing enrollment pressures and funding challenges faced by higher education institutions, alongside strategic priorities such as expanding tuition savings programs, fostering cost-saving partnerships on technology contracts and mental health services, advancing digital learning, distance education impacts, supporting Indigenous student success, and mental health workforce needs.

Part of the commission meeting focused on the WICHE Behavioral Health Program鈥檚 workforce initiative supporting pre-doctoral psychology students. Since 2013, WICHE has been instrumental in establishing the , which earned a 10-year American Psychological Association accreditation and has graduated 90 psychologists, with over 50% retained one year post-graduation.

President Lassner commended for leadership

糖心Vlog官方 President David Lassner, a Hawaiʻi WICHE commissioner since 2015 and the WICHE Commission chair in 2022, was commended for his leadership in advancing equity-focused initiatives. Lassner, who will retire on December 31, reflected on his 40-year career at 糖心Vlog官方 and his role in fostering collaboration across the region.

“The University of Hawaiʻi is proud to partner with WICHE to enhance educational opportunities for students from Hawaiʻi and the West,” Lassner said. “WICHE is also a valuable community for the exchange of ideas and sharing of solutions to the challenges facing higher education in our region including the Pacific.”

WICHE President Demar茅e Michelau praised 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 dedication to expanding student access to higher education and credited Lassner鈥檚 leadership with advancing the commission鈥檚 mission.

“As a champion of affordable education and innovation, President Lassner has left a legacy that will inspire future generations,” Michelau said.

The meeting reaffirmed 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 regional leadership in educational access and collaboration while highlighting the importance of data-driven strategies like the Knocking at the College Door report to shape a resilient future for higher education.

(EWC) President Suzanne Vares-Lum announced that she will be leaving the center at the end of this year to accept a Department of Defense appointment to head the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) located in Waik墨k墨.

Former EWC Board of Governors Chair and longtime president of Punahou School James Scott will serve as the center鈥檚 interim president while the board undertakes a search for a permanent successor, a process that is expected to take approximately six months. The board has retained the executive search firm of Isaacson, Miller to assist with the search.

“It is with a heavy heart that I will be moving on from the East-West Center, whose amazing staff and community have made my time here some of the most professionally and personally rewarding of my life,” Vares-Lum, a University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 alumna, wrote in a message to the center鈥檚 staff and community. “Making the decision to depart this great institution was very difficult, but ultimately I believe this new appointment is the best opportunity for me to draw on my cumulative experiences toward making a positive impact on our region.”

During Vares-Lum鈥檚 three-year tenure at EWC, she oversaw the center鈥檚 recovery from pandemic lockdowns and worked closely with the institution鈥檚 board, staff, and stakeholders to implement EWC鈥檚 first new formal strategic plan in nearly two decades. Both government and private funding have also increased, and enrollment in EWC鈥檚 programs have reached some of the highest levels in several decades.

“While the EWC Board of Governors is pained by President Vares-Lum鈥檚 decision to step down, we certainly respect her reasons for doing so in the interests of serving our country and our region,” EWC Board Chairman and former Hawaiʻi Gov. John Waiheʻe said. “We are thankful to Jim Scott for agreeing to step in as interim president, and grateful for the remarkable energy Suzy has brought to her service at the Center, restoring its vitality in the wake of the pandemic and setting it on a steady course for the future.”

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green, who is an ex officio member of the EWC鈥檚 board and is responsible for appointing five of its other members, added, “Suzy鈥檚 remarkable tenure as the first woman and first Native Hawaiian President of the East-West Center has been a reflection of her inspiring vision, energy, and aloha. Thanks to her leadership, the Center has enjoyed an upwelling of support in recent years, and she leaves it well-positioned as a stronger, more vital institution. Although she will surely be missed at the Center, we are fortunate that she will remain a pillar of our state鈥檚 foreign policy community in her new role at APCSS.”

In 2021, Vares-Lum became the first woman and first Native Hawaiian to lead EWC. Born and raised in Wahiaw膩, Vares-Lum earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in journalism and a master of education in teaching from 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, and a master of strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. In 2019, she became a National Security Fellow of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and she is also an alumna of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies.

As a major general in the U.S. Army, Vares-Lum advised the most senior officials at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, where she maintained key relationships among nations within the Asia Pacific Region. She retired from the military in April 2021, after 34 years of service.

Marshall Islands President and University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 alumna Hilda Heine was honored with the East-West Center鈥檚 2024 at a celebration on October 25.

As the first woman to lead an independent Pacific Island nation in modern times, Heine has become a symbol of gender equality and women鈥檚 empowerment. She has had significant successes as a leader in education and made important contributions to climate change advocacy.

“If there is anything my career has taught me, it is that positive impact can be made only through building community and building bridges,” Heine said. “There is that Western saying, ‘No person is an island.’ It’s a concept that our islander cultures have known for millennia, and that my mother and father taught me as well: We are only as strong as our communities and our kinship to one another.”

Heine earned a master鈥檚 degree in education from 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 and went on to become the first person in the Marshall Islands to earn a doctorate degree. Prior to entering politics, she worked as a classroom teacher, school counselor, founding president of the College of Micronesia and secretary of education. She first served as president from 2016 to 2020, then won the presidency again in 2023. Alongside her focus on education, she has frequently addressed world leaders on climate change impacts, where her low-lying island nation is on the front lines. Under her leadership, the Marshall Islands became the first country to submit new, binding climate targets in line with the Paris Agreement.

The Women of Impact Award was presented to Heine, a former member of the East-West Center鈥檚 Board of Governors, by the board鈥檚 current chair, former Hawaiʻi Gov. John Waiheʻe. Current Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green presented Heine with an official proclamation honoring her for her contributions to women鈥檚 equality, climate advocacy, and educational progress in the Pacific.

The Women of Impact Award was established by the East-West Center Board of Governors in 2022 to recognize the important role of women鈥檚 leadership and impact in governance, diplomacy and society.

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Faculty in the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (DURP), conducted a summer course in Indonesia designed to enable students to appreciate challenges of urbanization, climate change and resilience in the Global South. This is the third year 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 has offered a two-week immersive program in partnership with the urban and regional planning department at Diponegoro University (UNDIP) in Semarang.

“The courses offered faculty and students from both universities an opportunity to share their knowledge and creativity in responding to urban environmental problems,” said Priyam Das, an associate professor in DURP who co-designed the co-led joint course in Indonesia. “糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 students learned about resilience and informality—of settlements, services and solutions—by engaging with local communities in Semarang.”

Neighborhood visits

During the course, students attended lectures, conducted field research, and visited local neighborhoods facing unique and significant challenges. Studio-style group work enabled students to collaboratively analyze problems and propose potential solutions. They shared their findings and ideas at public presentations that concluded the program.

“Immersive and collaborative international learning experiences are essential to equip future professionals with the skills and sensitivity needed to tackle the urban challenges of a globalized world,” said Ashok Das, an associate professor in DURP, who conceived the collaborative program and led its design.

Critical learning

糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 graduate student Lahela Mattos took her first trip outside the U.S. to Indonesia. The k膩naka ʻ艒iwi (Native Hawaiian) scholar is part of the program at DURP. She aspires to become a professional planner and create spaces that allow Indigenous peoples to reclaim and flourish their cultural identities.

“Being able to see the effects of SLR [sea level rise] really helped me to understand what we will be facing as urban planners鈥e realized that planning interventions are limited for places that have already been inundated,” Mattos said.

These courses have been partly supported by the LuceSEA Transitions: Environment, Society and Change grant awarded to 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 and .

DURP is housed in the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 .

In a significant development for climate research and management, the Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal (HCDP) is set to expand its reach to additional Pacific islands, and provide more data to help decisionmakers. Launched in 2022, the free online portal developed by researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi and the East-West Center is expected to catalyze new research initiatives and inform policy decisions to mitigate climate risks and safeguard natural and human systems.

A major enhancement to the HCDP is the integration of data from the Hawaiʻi Mesonet, which plans to establish 100 new climate stations across the state over the next two years. Similar efforts are underway in American Samoa, and funding is being sought for a mesonet in Guam.

“The Hawaiʻi Mesonet is filling critical gaps in our understanding of climate in Hawaiʻi. Improving monitoring across the Pacific is a goal we are working towards, one station at a time,” said Tom Giambelluca, 糖心Vlog官方 Water Resource Research Center director.

The HCDP‘s recent inclusion in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society underscores its importance in streamlining access to climate information. The HCDP team plans to leverage decades of work developing the portal and expand its utility and function to serve other regions in the Pacific.

User friendly, comprehensive datasets

The user-friendly interface and comprehensive datasets make the HCDP an invaluable resource for improving awareness and facilitating collaboration across sectors. Recent updates feature new gridded surfaces, such as seasonal land cover and daily rainfall and humidity maps.

“Accessing high-quality climate data for Hawaiʻi has never been easier,” said Ryan Longman, East-West Center Oceania researcher. “This means greater opportunities for research, community outreach, and developing decision support tools to aid resource managers.”

Federal agencies increasingly leverage HCDP data for various applications:

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency uses the data for an insurance product for ranchers in Hawaiʻi.
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration produces a monthly state-of-climate report.
• The U.S. Geological Survey develops models to track avian malaria using HCDP‘s gridded products.

Since its launch on March 3, 2022, more than 45,000 unique users have accessed more than 20 million HCDP files. Upcoming developments include mapping hourly wind speed and solar radiation and creating tools for wildfire risk assessment and drought forecasting.

In a bid to foster cross-cultural learning, the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa (CSEAS) welcomed four scholars from Indonesia and Thailand for the spring 2024 semester as part of an exchange. The four-month program includes participation in the Hawaiʻi English Language Program, refining scientific writing skills, and active engagement with the East-West Center and CSEAS communities.

“We are excited to host early career colleagues from Indonesia and Thailand this semester and engage with them on shared research interests,” said Miriam Stark, director at CSEAS. “We look forward to a fruitful visit and are grateful to the Henry Luce Foundation for this valuable opportunity.”

Navigating exchange

糖心Vlog官方ing scholars Tansuda Jinai, Fatwa Faturachmat, Andi Vika Faradiba Muin and Khemrat Panpanich arrived at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 in January 2024.

For Fatwa Faturachmat, who holds a master鈥檚 degree from Hasanuddin University in Indonesia, the experience on the 惭腻苍辞补 campus has been eye-opening.

“The differences between my home country鈥檚 educational system and that of the United States are striking,” Faturachmat said. “Notably, the diversity among students in terms of race, background, and religion stands out. My decision to join this program is driven by a desire to enhance my skills as a research scholar, particularly in scientific writing for scholarly journals.”

Enriching cultural exchange

Last summer, eight 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 students traveled to Thailand and Indonesia with the LuceSEA Field School, a program that explores the dynamic socioeconomic and environmental shifts in rural Southeast Asian societies. The experience culminated in a workshop at the Center for Khmer Studies in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Building on this collaboration, CSEAS invited the Southeast Asian Scholars for cultural exchange at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补.

In collaboration with the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 , , Khon Kaen University and Universitas Hasanuddin, this initiative aims to create a vibrant and dynamic educational experience. It is part of the five-year “LuceSEA Transitions: Environment, Society, and Change” grant awarded to CSEAS. The grant enables the paradigm to shift to focus on collaboration between institutions and scholars in the region.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Philip Goldberg engaged more than 100 students in a thought-provoking town hall session at the 鈥檚 Imin International Conference Center on January 22.

“I think the students had very, very good questions, and they’re clearly interested in the world around them, not just their own world,” Emanuel said. “This gives me kind of optimism and confidence about the future, when you have people this interested in not only learning but contributing.”

The diplomats shared insights from their extensive public service careers, delving into the trilateral partnership between the U.S., Japan and the Republic of Korea. The majority of the event comprised a Q&A session, providing a unique opportunity for students, young professionals and those interested in international affairs to participate.

“I think it’s very interesting and most important that there are so many students both at the undergraduate and graduate level who are interested in these issues,” Goldberg said. “I think it’s natural since Hawaiʻi is such an entry point to the Indo Pacific.”

The Q&A portion was moderated by Monica Orillo, a second-year 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 master鈥檚 student in who is earning a graduate certificate in Philippine studies.

“It was really cool to be able to connect my future professional career to my academic experiences here at 糖心Vlog官方,” Orillo said. “And it was really interesting to see how the ambassadors interacted with students, were able to learn from the students like, ‘Hey, these are our interests and our concerns coming from the university or coming from Hawaiʻi. These are the things that we’re interested in. These are the things that we want to talk about.’”

Students from Japan and the Republic of Korea also attended virtually. Inspired by the Trilateral Leaders’ Summit at Camp David with President Joe Biden in August 2023, the session aimed to foster cross-border dialogue and shape the future. The event marks a significant step in strengthening cooperation among the three nations.

Following the town hall, students explored international opportunities at an expo in the East-West Center. The event was jointly sponsored by 糖心Vlog官方, East-West Center, and the U.S. embassies in Tokyo and Seoul.

The (IILF) was held in Hawaiʻi for the first time, November 27–30. Founded in 1999 and held every two years, the forum serves as a coming-together of Indigenous information practitioners and knowledge keepers from Native nations around the world to discuss goals, challenges, projects and successes that are important to Native peoples, cultural resources and the repositories that house them.

Because of COVID-19, the forum had been on hiatus since 2021. Hawaiʻi stepped up to host and drew the most attendees in the event鈥檚 history. Around 200 delegates, from Aotearoa, Australia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Canada, Norway, the United States and more, attended sessions at Waimea Valley, the 鈥檚 , , , and the 鈥檚 . Librarians and archivists from across the 糖心Vlog官方 system and throughout the local and diaspora community served on the steering committee and its various subcommittees.

Kapena Shim and Hauʻolihiwahiwa Moniz from Hamilton Library served as IILF Hawaiʻi steering committee co-chairs.

“The Forum speaks to the amazing work of resilience and reclamation that Indigenous information practitioners and allies all over the world are forging in both big and small ways to support Indigenous communities and sovereign futures. It was a time for us to think collectively about how we are lifting up Indigenous communities and their fight/right for ea (sovereignty),” said Shim and Moniz.

Other steering committee members from 糖心Vlog官方 and the community included:

Carina Chernisky (糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu)
Keahiahi Long (糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa)
Annie Thomas (Kapiʻolani CC)
Hōkū Kaʻahaʻaina (ʻUluʻulu, 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu)
Shavonn Matsuda (糖心Vlog官方 Maui College)
Kawena Komeiji (糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu, former committee member)
Hinano Tangaro (Kawaihaʻo Church Archives)
Puamokihana Renti Cruz (Hawaiʻi Kai Public Library)

Delegates attended breakout sessions that were hosted by their peers to learn more about Indigenous knowledge initiatives being implemented in their respective countries and communities. Although the forum welcomed non-Indigenous people to attend, all planning and presentations were Indigenous led.

The forum theme was EA: Indigenous Agency and Abundance, which challenged delegates to think about how Indigenous information professionals breathe life into their institutions to advance Indigenous independence and sovereignty in their communities. Attendees heard from keynote speakers such as Pua Case, 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College Vice Chancellor Kahele Dukelow, and a panel of Kanaka (Native Hawaiian) librarians (Kylie Flood, Ikaika Keliiiki, Komeiji and Long), all of whom are graduates of the 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa library and information science program.

With a $75,000 grant from Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, IILF Hawaiʻi was able to increase attendance, refund presenters their registration fees, pay the way for several Maui information professionals to attend, and hire a casual-hire part-time Indigenous initiatives librarian for Hamilton Library who will lead a white paper on the state of Indigenous librarianship to be published in fall 2024.

The proceedings from the forum will be published in spring 2024.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (CPIS) hosted the Republic of Vanuatu鈥檚 permanent representative to the United Nations, New York, H.E. Ambassador Odo Tevi in October.

At an event on the 惭腻苍辞补 campus for faculty, students and the broader community, Tevi spoke on the Vanuatu government鈥檚 leadership in the initiative to request an advisory opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). His talk focused on the diplomatic processes and strategies, the supportive roles played by various groups and individuals, and the challenges faced.

The event featured an opening ʻoli by Welaahilani W膩hilani, a CPIS welcome by Director Alexander Maywer. Tevi shared some of his experiences navigating the diplomatic processes and coalition building necessary to mount a global campaign for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice. This was followed by a moderated question and answer with Associate Professor Tarcisius Kabutaulaka. Tammy Tabe, Oceania research fellow at the East-West Center, provided concluding thoughts and shared resources for the audience to engage and follow the movement for the ICJ advisory opinion.

Despite the challenges, on March 29, 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Resolution to request an advisory opinion from the ICJ. It was co-sponsored by a coalition of 132 countries.

The success at UNGA was due largely to the diplomatic work conducted by Vanuatu鈥檚 Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by Tevi.

“On behalf of the LLM [] students, we are privileged to co-host Ambassador Odo Tevi in our university,” said LLM student Solomon Yeo. “His presentation underscored the notion that a nation’s size is irrelevant to the elucidation and progressive development of international law; what truly matters is its political will. I hope his words can inspire students in this university to rise to the challenges of our time, just as the students at the University of the South Pacific did in 2019.”

After the talk Tevi joined informal conversations over kava. He was also the guest of honor at a picnic held at Magic Island.

Tevi鈥檚 visit and talk was co-sponsored by CPIS, the William S. Richardson School of Law, the East-West Center, the Pacific Islands Development Program and the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change.

In October, undergraduate and graduate students from around Oʻahu gathered at the for a three-day workshop to engage on nuclear policy issues. The workshop featured lectures from leading experts, group discussions and a crisis scenario exercise. In addition to discussing policy issues at the global level, students also thought critically about the ways nuclear policies impact Hawaiʻi and the Asia-Pacific region.

“This workshop may very well be the first time deterrence, nonproliferation and disarmament have been discussed on the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 campus since the Reagan administration,” said Brien Hallett, professor in the at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补.

The Honolulu Nuclear Policy Workshop was organized by the in partnership with 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 and and the at the East-West Center. It was the latest in a series of workshops the Truman Center has convened in cities such as Chicago and Atlanta with the goal of diversifying the pipeline of people working in U.S. nuclear security. This diversity ensures a more comprehensive representation of communities affected by those policies and fosters a more inclusive policy making process.

Encouraging diverse perspectives

No prior expertise with nuclear issues was required to apply for the workshop, and the organizers actively encouraged applications from women, people of color, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ students. Thirteen undergraduate and graduate students from 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Chaminade University of Honolulu and University of the South Pacific were selected to participate.

“I came away with a new perspective and more confidence in my ability to discuss nuclear policy issues,” said Monica Orillo, a graduate student in at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补.

The first day of the workshop kicked off with sessions addressing the dawn of the nuclear age and nuclear deterrence led by Lily Wijtowicz from the Truman Center. The second day included a breakout session on proliferation in East Asia and a lecture on deterrence in East Asia by David Santoro from Pacific Forum, a Honolulu-based non-profit foreign policy research institute. The third day began with a session on nuclear disarmament led by Jana Wattenburg from Aberystwyth University, followed by a lecture on why nuclear testing matters for Hawaiʻi by Lilly Adams from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Nuclear weapons, public health, environmental preservation

Throughout the workshop, discussions highlighted the links between nuclear weapons, public health and environmental preservation. Participants explored the continued risks that nuclear weapons pose to people around the world, especially those in historically underserved communities. Students were encouraged to think critically about the policy making process and to consider how the inclusion of new voices could impact their communities and the world.

“Prior to the workshop, I had never thought about viewing nuclear politics through a gender lens, or using feminism as a tool for world peace, or that increased gender representation at nuclear arms control and disarmament discussions could potentially shape a different kind of foreign nuclear policy,” said Elizabeth Yen Tzu Liew, a student in the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Master鈥檚 in Asian International Affairs program.

The workshop concluded with a panel discussion on careers in nuclear policy featuring speakers working in a variety of fields. Liew said, “This experience was instrumental in inspiring me to see the myriad of career opportunities where nuclear politics could merge with soft power, my area of interest, and that one need not be a nuclear scientist to pursue a career related to nuclear policy.”

Amefil (Amy) Agbayani, emeritus assistant vice chancellor for student diversity, received the 鈥檚 2023 for her lifetime work toward a more equitable and inclusive society. The award was presented to Agbayani at a private event on October 20.

“I am humbled and proud to receive this award,” Agbayani said. “Mahalo plenty to the East-West Center and many other organizations and individuals who continue to address inequities and give voice and visibility to marginalized communities. I am so very grateful to the center for awarding me a scholarship and bringing me to Hawaiʻi nearly 60 years ago, and providing me with lifelong friends from all across our region.”

A history of public service

Agbayani was born in the Philippines and received her education from 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, University of the Philippines and East-West Center. At 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, Agbayani advocated, developed and administered student equity and diversity programs for Native Hawaiians, Filipinos, African Americans, Pacific Islanders, students with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ students, senior citizens, immigrants and other underserved groups. She also conducted research on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in higher education.

Agbayani served as chair of the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission, the Judicial Selection Commission and the Filipino Community Center. She is co-chair of Hawaiʻi Friends of Civil Rights, and board member of the Patsy T. Mink PAC and The Legal Clinic, an organization that ensures justice for low-income immigrants and migrants in Hawaiʻi.

Most recently, Agbayani was selected by President Biden to serve on the White House Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. In April 2023, she received the Guardian of Immigrant Justice award from The Legal Clinic for her significant contributions to Hawaiʻi over 60 years.

Inspiring future generations

Each year, 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 awards the Dr. Amefil “Amy” Agbayani Faculty Diversity Enhancement Award, which recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to enhancing diversity. The award was established to recognize Agbayani鈥檚 lifetime commitment to diversity and social justice in Hawaiʻi.

“For decades, Amy has given so much to our East-West Center community as an invaluable mentor and alumni leader,” said East-West Center President and 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 alumna Suzanne Vares-Lum. “We are so thrilled to be able to be able to honor her in return for her unwavering commitment not just to the center, but to all of humanity.”

Eight students from the recently wrapped up travels to Thailand and Indonesia for a six-week field school program that explored the dynamic socioeconomic and environmental shifts in rural Southeast Asian societies.

The Collaborative Southeast Asia field school, funded by the Henry Luce Foundation鈥檚 five-year grant, aims to foster a new generation of scholars working in the region and to engage them with local partner institutions. A mix of undergraduate and graduate students from 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 collaborated with their counterparts from Southeast Asian universities, such as Khon Kaen University (KKU) in Thailand and Universitas Hasanuddin (UNHAS) in Indonesia, for a two-week cross-cultural fieldwork experience in rural Southeast Asia. This unique opportunity allowed students to work in diverse teams and exchange approaches to field-based and experiential learning.

“The reason why we feel strongly about field-based learning, you don鈥檛 just learn about the place cognitively, but also affectively. You can smell the place, you can empathize with people working in agriculture, and you can hear the voices of the community members that are subject to agrarian change,“ said Krisna Suryanata, field school director and faculty member in 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 during a public presentation on the field school. “Building this empathy can really change the preconception that students without field-based learning might have.”

Culture deep-dive

One component of the program is cultural and language immersion. Prior to fieldwork, the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 students spent their first three weeks taking Thai and Indonesian language classes at the Chiang Mai University Language Institute in Thailand and Wisma Bahasa in Indonesia that rudimentarily prepared them for interviews and understanding of the local culture.

Fieldwork activities:

• Documenting Landscape Changes: Students used Geographic Information System (GIS) tools such as ArcGIS StoryMaps to document landscape changes.
• Qualitative Research: Qualitative research methods employed to collect information on the challenges and opportunities faced by smallholders engaged in commodity production and agriculture.
• Technological Innovations: Background information collected on technological innovations and non-traditional commodities (cassava, vegetables, poultry, cashew nuts, shallots, tree resin) reshaping agrarian transitions.

Presenting research

Following the field research exercise, all student research teams and mentors convened in Siem Reap, Cambodia, to present their findings at an international workshop. These findings complemented the ongoing research conducted by KKU and UNHAS researchers. The workshop delved into insights gained from interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration and addressed critical questions on opportunities and challenges of international collaborative research.

The Collaborative Southeast Asia field school is organized by the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 , , and , in partnership with Khon Kaen University and Universitas Hasanuddin.

More than 100 experts in the field of high energy physics gathered at the East-West Center for the , hosted by the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, May 22–23.

High energy physics explores what the world is made of and how it works at the smallest and largest scales from the tiniest particles to large objects in outer space.

“It鈥檚 important for us at 糖心Vlog官方 for two reasons, one is to make the broader community aware of our high energy physics research at the University of Hawaiʻi, but also to network and stimulate connections with funding agencies and researchers in the U.S. and Japan,” said conference organizer and Professor Thomas E. Browder from the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 in the .

Two of the event’s speakers were Regina Rameika, U.S. Department of Energy Office of High Energy Physics associate director, and Brian Beckford from the Intensity Frontier program of the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 Office of High Energy Physics.

“It鈥檚 absolutely critical,” said Rameika. “I鈥檓 familiar with U.S.-Japan cooperation and now getting to be here to talk about the actual proposals and the work that we鈥檙e doing together really helps to emphasize that.”

Beckford leads the Intensity Frontier program, which 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 is part of. The program involves hands-on experiments using high-intensity beams looking for rare processes.

The symposium opened with an introduction from 糖心Vlog官方 President David Lassner. Plenary talks followed, which included highlights on cutting-edge research projects in the U.S. and Japan, including the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment by 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Professor Jelena Maricic.

Funding opportunities for cutting-edge research

Natalie Roe, Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory managed by the University of California, chaired the first day鈥檚 opening session. Roe pointed out one of the goals of the symposium is to kickstart and continue funding opportunities for innovative research projects.

“Both the Department of Energy and the MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) funding agency in Japan put in money to support collaborative proposals where we have both the U.S. and Japanese principal investigators working together, often on cutting-edge research and development in accelerator physics and detector physics,” Roe said. “And this is a way of getting our younger scientists working together, which establishes the foundation for the next generation of collaboration.”

Professor Masanori Yamauchi, director general of the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization in Japan, presented on his organization鈥檚 latest project developments, including J-PARC, a multi-purpose high-intensity proton accelerator complex, and SuperKEKB, a high-luminosity electron-positron collider.

“Since this endeavor is beneficial to all human beings, we have to have collaboration of scientists from as many countries as possible to do research,” Yamauchi said. “The U.S. and Japan are a symbol of this collaboration.”

The symposium was started in 1979 under an agreement between the Japan and U.S. governments on cooperation in research and development in science and technology. In 2019, the 40th anniversary was celebrated with a symposium held in Hawaiʻi. It has become a tradition for both countries to alternate hosting the symposium in Hawaiʻi and Japan.

—By Marc Arakaki

The held its annual East-West Fest on April 16 with hundreds of people in attendance. This year’s theme was “Celebrating our Cultures, Sustaining our Communities.”

Two stages were set up to showcase cultural performances by students, community and professional performers with music, dance and martial arts.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Way of Tea Club also hosted three traditional Japanese tea ceremony demonstrations in the Japanese Tea House.

糖心Vlog官方ors had the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities, sample foods, ask questions and learn about the different cultures represented at the festival.

Although the University of Hawaiʻi and East-West Center are separate institutions, they have long been close partners and neighbors.