Expanded from 14 to 42 student ambassadors, the 2026 Hawaiʻi Sister-State Study Tours mark a major investment in the next generation of leaders. With statewide representation and subsidized access, PAAC and the East-West Center are building Hawaiʻi’s global leadership pipeline.

Leads with the mission Global leadership doesn't start in boardrooms or on world stages. For these four Hawaiʻi students, it started at a beach full of trash, in a flood-marked home in Hội An, at a Pearl Harbor commemoration, and in a school that didn't yet have a student council. Meet PAAC's 2026 scholarship and award winners.

147 students from 19 schools across O'ahu, Hawai'i Island, and Maui competed in PAAC's 2026 Hawaiʻi Regional Academic WorldQuest at UH Mānoa. In a historic upset, Kalani High School swept the competition — dethroning two-time champions Kealakehe High School and earning a spot at Nationals in Washington, D.C.

Expanded from 14 to 42 student ambassadors, the 2026 Hawaiʻi Sister-State Study Tours mark a major investment in the next generation of leaders. With statewide representation and subsidized access, PAAC and the East-West Center are building Hawaiʻi’s global leadership pipeline.

Over 120 students from across Hawaiʻi gathered at the 2025 Global Vision Summit to confront one of the Pacific’s most urgent questions: how will artificial intelligence shape our cultures, climate, and communities? Through immersive diplomacy and real-world negotiation, students stepped into leadership and discovered what global citizenship looks like in action.

PAAC is excited to announce that applications for our 2025 Freeman Summer Study Tour to Vietnam are now being accepted. Under the theme “Cultivating Resilient Communities”, students will be immersed in Vietnamese history, politics, and culture. Students will also learn about global issues, strengthen 21st century skills, and build a strong sense of community with their fellow travelers. The group will be visiting Hội An, Huế , and Hà Nội.

Thanks to the generosity of The Freeman Foundation, the majority of participants with demonstrated financial need and/or demonstrated commitment to PAAC programs have received merit- and/or need-based financial aid for this program.

Link to Student Application Form

When are the applications due?

📅 Friday, January 17, 2025 at 11:59PM

Who can I contact if I have any questions?

Contact Carol Li <paac@paachawaii.org> if you have any questions.