The East-West Center was established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific and the United States. The Center is located on a 21-acre Manoa campus at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, and a second office is located in Washington, DC.

374 students from 50 nations will be studying at the East-West Center this fall. Educational programs and exchanges help current and future leaders develop a deep understanding of the Asia Pacific Region. The Center has a global network of more than 55,000 alumni and 600 partner organizations.

About half of the Center’s budget comes from the U.S. Congress and the remaining financial support comes from individuals, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, alumni and other sources.

The center conducts research on many issues of significance to the region, provides educational programs, seminars for policymakers, professionals and scholars, organizes outreach activities to the public, provides scholarships and other services.

Research studies are organized into four areas:
1. Economics
2. Environmental Change, Vulnerability and Governance
3. Politics, Governance and Security
4. Population and Health

East-West Center computer software models for the spread of HIV/AIDS have been used by national health programs to analyze their HIV epidemics and develop effective policy responses.

NASA awarded over $800,000 in grant funding for research to determine the effects of the explosive expansion of rubber cultivation in Montane Mailand South Asia (Laos, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China’s Yunnan Province) on regional water and carbon dynamics.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Integrated Data and Environmental Applications Center has been launched to gather data, educate, research and support programs regarding the oceans, climate and ecosystems in the Pacific island communities.

Another of the specific programs is the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP). The founding mission of PIDP is to assist Pacific islands leaders in advancing their collective efforts to achieve and sustain equitable social and economic development consistent with the goals of the people of the Pacific islands.

Members of the PIDP come from the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

A particular research project is the Islands of Globalization project, conducted in partnership with the Center for Pacific Islands Studies. The research project looks at the effects of globalization from the perspective of small island societies.

PIDP is also working in partnership with the United Nations on the Reinventing Government Project that focuses on understanding good practicies and innovative approaches to reinventing government in the Pacific region.