His Majesty King George Tupou V of the Kingdom of Tonga recently visited the East-West Center, meeting with leaders from the Center and planting a native Hawaiian ‘Ohia tree in the Center’s courtyard as part of the 50th anniversary year celebration. His Majesty was joined by East-West Center President Charles E. Morrison, who noted the Center’s close ties with the Kingdom through the EWC’s Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP).

A strong growth area at the East-West Center in recent years has been the Center’s journalism fellowships and exchanges. Since 2005, the range of EWC programs for journalists has doubled, to 10 programs serving about 100 participants per year, with many more attending the biennial international media conferences.

Between raising funds for victims of the 2004 Asian tsunami, helping support educational programs for street children, and forging a sister-chapter relationship with alumni in Australia, the EWCA Nepal Alumni Chapter in Kathmandu has been busy carrying out the Center’s mission in South Asia.

After 25 years of devoted service as a program officer and participant services officer assisting East-West Center’s international students, Rose Nakamura didn’t slow down.  Her retirement from the Center in 1989 opened up new avenues of service.  As Hawaii’s senior population continues to grow and many are isolated, living far away from family on the U.S. mainland, Nakamura saw a need in the community to create a program that provides volunteer assistance to homebound frail elderly and disabled persons to ensure their independence and dignity.

As gas prices soar in the U.S., concerns about energy security take center stage in the international dialogue on economic development. Editors of “ Asia’s Energy Future: Regional Dynamics and Global Implications ,” EWC Senior Fellows Fereidun Fesharaki and Kang Wu, examined this issue in light of Asia’s sharply increasing energy demands, during an EWC briefing in late April on Capitol Hill.

A new book resulting from the East-West Center’s International Forum for Education 2020 project has received a warm review in Comparative Education Review, the leading academic journal in the field.

Some 130 graduate students from 50 universities in 25 nations gathered at the Hawaii Imin International Conference Center Feb. 14-16 to present their research at the East-West Center’s 7th annual International Graduate Student Conference.

Earlier this year, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand visited Hawaii to take part in several special East-West Center events, including a dedication ceremony for the Center’s recently reconstructed Royal Sala Thai, or Thai pavilion.

Click on the player window at the bottom of this page to watch a brief video on the princess’ visit.

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The East-West Center in Washington, D.C. is growing.

There are new publications, expanded outreach efforts and other initiatives under the leadership of Director Satu Limaye, who joined the office in February.

Highlights include:

More than 80 representatives from government agencies, universities, and international, non-governmental and philanthropic organizations gathered in Hanoi from September 12-13 to participate in the East-West Center-sponsored workshop on combating emerging infectious diseases (EID).

HONOLULU (August 14)  The EWC welcomed 155 new fellows from 37 countries in traditional Hawaiian style with a lei greeting, a hula dance, and a Hawaiian ole chant during this week’s new student orientation.

The traditional welcoming ceremony was part of a two-week orientation that exposes new students to the unique cross-cultural environment of the EWC and instills an appreciation for the host indigenous Hawaiian culture.