Building Bridges: One Handshake at a Time

June 14, 2016

PAAC has welcomed 35 international visitors from 23 countries to our islands thus far in 2016.  Six groups have come to meet with their professional counterparts and experience the diversity of the United States. They have studied agricultural entrepreneurship, military base hosting communities, port security, ASEAN law of the sea, space security, and tourism and economic development. Mahalo to all the experts who shared not only their knowledge, but also the aloha spirit with the visitors.

“The people of Hawaii are genuinely friendly. You can feel that this is from the heart.” -Visitor from Suriname

 

Five members of the Mongolian Parliament shared best practices in governance and learned about Hawaiian culture and customs with UH political scientist, Colin Moore, and Amb. Lauren Moriarty.

16 tourism officials and professionals from 15 countries met with Hawaii resources, includin Environmental Education Agent Liz Kumabe at Hanauma Bay, to gain instight into tourism management, sustainability and economic development in Hawaii.

Japanese city government officials experience local Hawaiian culture through food at Highway Inn Waipahu. They came to Hawaii to deepen their understanding of base-hosting communities to apply back in their home cities of Urasoe, Ginowan, Naha and Yokosuka.