42 Public High Schools. One Statewide Student Delegation.

Study Tours

Feb 19

This spring break, 42 Hawaiʻi public high school students will represent our state on the global stage.

Through the 2026 Hawaiʻi Sister-State Study Tours Program, student ambassadors from across the islands will travel to Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur in the Philippines, Jeju Island in South Korea, or Okinawa in Japan from March 14–26, 2026.

What makes this year different?

Scale.

The program has expanded from last year’s pilot of 14 students to 42 ambassadors representing 42 public high schools statewide.

This isn’t just a study tour.

It’s a statewide delegation.

Designed for Access

Through a partnership between the Pacific & Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) and the East-West Center, each student will pay no more than $500 for the full experience.

This includes international airfare, lodging, meals, transportation, travel insurance, and immersive learning activities.

That cap changes everything.

It means students from all corners of our islands — from Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Waiʻanae, Kohala, and beyond — can participate.

For Sofia Pimentel of Lānaʻi High School, the opportunity represents more than travel.

“Living here in Lānaʻi, since we’re so small, it’s really hard to expand and find new and different opportunities. I’ve always wanted to explore the world and meet new people and try new things. This opportunity allows me to step beyond the limits of my home island.”

— Sofia Pimentel, Lānaʻi High School

Building Global Ambassadors

The Sister-State Study Tours emphasize:

Historical and cultural understanding
Contemporary economic and social issues
Relationship-building across communities
Experiential, place-based learning

Students are not traveling as tourists.

They are traveling as ambassadors.

Cade Goya of Waiākea High School describes the impact this way:

“Gaining this global awareness will be very useful for connecting with others in the future, help me understand global issues, and find new ways to lead.”

— Cade Goya, Waiākea High School

For Nainoa Hooke of Kohala High School, the Okinawa tour is deeply personal:

“This opportunity means a lot to me, my family and my community because Okinawa has a very similar climate to Hawaiʻi and I can use the agricultural knowledge that I have gained there and easily apply it here.”

— Nainoa Hooke, Kohala High School

These are future policymakers, business leaders, educators, and cultural bridge-builders in the making.

A Statewide Commitment to Global Education

The 2026 delegation represents 42 public high schools across Hawaiʻi — from Hawaiʻi Island to Kauaʻi to Oʻahu and Maui County.

The program is a partnership between the Pacific & Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) and the East-West Center, combining more than 20 years of student travel expertise with decades of international diplomacy and regional cooperation.

Founded in 1954, PAAC has reached more than 100,000 students statewide through its High School Global Education Program and now serves approximately 1,500 students annually.

The East-West Center brings over 60 years of fostering understanding across the Indo-Pacific region, with a global alumni network of more than 70,000 leaders.

Together, the partnership ensures that global education in Hawaiʻi is accessible to everyone.