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Honolulu | Friday, October 7, 2016

What Role Will Hawaii Play in the Pacific Century?

Moderated by Irene Hirano Inouye, President, U.S.-Japan Council

China’s military and economic clout are rising, and Asian countries are leading the world in growth. The 21st century is the Pacific Century, and that puts Hawaii at the center of the global stage. Honolulu is nearly as close to Beijing, Seoul, and Sydney as it is to Washington D.C. As headquarters of the United States Pacific Command, Hawaii plays a big and growing role in ensuring both our national security and, via its protection of safe commerce and cargo, our economic security. As U.S. military and commercial strategy becomes more Asia-facing, how prepared is our farthest-flung state to take on a more prominent, global role? Has the state positioned itself to benefit from greater investment in the Pacific Rim? How might closer ties to Asia and other parts of the Pacific Rim change Hawaii’s culture and economy? Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, Kurt Tong, U.S. Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau, and chef and restaurateur Roy Yamaguchi discuss how Hawaii may lead—and be transformed by—the Pacific Century.