Our History
The Pacific & Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) is an independent, international education 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to promote understanding and empower engagement on global and international issues with special attention to Hawaiʻi’s role in the Asia-Pacific region.
PAAC is preparing the next generation of leaders for an increasingly interconnected world and promoting citizen diplomacy one handshake at a time. We are building bridges, inspiring young leaders, and developing global citizens.
PAAC THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
1954 - 1963
“After its name change from the Institute of Pacific Relations…the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council set out to root itself in the community and involve more local businesses and individuals in its activities…
In this period, PAAC continued to run its regular forums on international topics at its Pacific House location, serving as the key convener and facilitator of discussions by industry leaders of foreign affairs. ”
Lisa Maruyama
PAAC Executive Director 1997 - 2007
Contributions by Jean Cornulle, wife of Herbert Cornulle, PAAC Board President, 1960
1964 - 1973
“PAAC’s role during this period concerned working with schools and community groups to inspire youth leadership in taking responsibility for finding resolutions for major world issues."
Stephanie McCandless Redford
PAAC Executive Director 1965 - 1970
1974 - 1983
“The highlight of the period was PAAC’s Educational Tour to the People’s Republic of China for teachers and students in the summer of 1978, six months before the U.S. normalized relations with China!”
Brenda Foster
PAAC Executive Director, 1977 - 1992
1994 - 2003
“In 1999 PAAC entered into a contract with the U.S. State Department to service the International Visitor Program for Hawaiʻi by arranging visits, community interactions and cultural and educational exchanges for international visitors.”
Frank Boas
PAAC President, 1999 - 2004
Contributions by Diane Peters-Nguyen, Executive Director 1993 - 1997
2004 - 2013
Freeman Summer Study Tours launched in 2004 with the inaugural trip to China. Scholarships were provided by the Freeman Foundation for all participants. During this period, PAAC developed Study Tours for students and teachers to China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and New Zealand.
Jill Takasaki Canfield
PAAC Executive Director, 2007 - 2016
2014 - 2023
During this period, PAAC focused resources on developing an even more robust High School Global Education Program. This sadly meant the discontinuation of long-standing community forums and servicing the IVLP. Youth leadership programs were integrated first through a partnership with Qatar Foundation International and then through the development of PAAC’s own Global Leadership Program. In 2023, the LEAD Summit and Workshop were created to serve PAAC Club Officers.
TODAY
PAAC has worked with
over 100,000 students, and
that number continues to grow!