Next Gen
Hawaii Asia-Pacific Affairs Leadership Program
The Hawaii Asia-Pacific Affairs Leadership Program immerses the next generation of Hawaii’s leaders in the major political, economic, and security issues of the region.
Since 2013, the Hawaii Asia-Pacific Affairs Leadership (APAL) Program has provided university students and young professionals the opportunity to learn about Asia-Pacific affairs and think critically about Hawaii’s role in the region. Participants develop a local and international peer network that will serve them in the future. The program is supported by a generous grant from the Freeman Foundation.
APAL Scholars gain exclusive access to Pacific Forum’s international network of senior foreign policy experts, emerging next-generation scholars and practitioners, and local community leaders and professionals. Throughout the nine-month program, they are invited to Pacific Forum conferences and events in Honolulu that are normally reserved for experts, practitioners, and donors. They also undertake a guided research project, allowing them to explore Hawaii’s connection to the region and speak directly with stakeholders and decision-makers working on these issues. Additionally, APAL Scholars have the chance to attend a Pacific Forum conference in Asia.
Participants meet 1-2 times a month from October to June for roundtable discussions focused on key regional issues. These meetings usually occur weeknights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Participants may also be invited to optional breakfast briefings on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Additional opportunities such as volunteering, site visits, and partner events are also part of the APAL experience.
