At a gala dinner at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel this evening attended by some 380 East-West Center supporters and guests, US Senator Brian Schatz was awarded the Center’s Asia Pacific Community Building Award, which recognizes individuals whose vision and accomplishments exemplify the Center’s mission of helping to build better understanding and relations across the Indo-Pacific region. (View a photo gallery of the event.)

The award ceremony included a brief congratulatory video from former President Barack Obama, which was played as a surprise for the senator. Calling the award “richly deserved,” Obama said Schatz has “always understood the importance of strengthening ties between the United States and Asia. Our history is bound up with the history of Asian nations and communities, and our future will be too. … That’s why I’m so grateful for everything you, and the East-West Center, are doing to build cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.” 

East-West Center Board of Governors Chair James K. Scott, Vice Chair Peter Ho and President Suzanne Vares-Lum presented Schatz with a wooden paddle statuette representing the award. 

In his acceptance remarks, Schatz said that while he was deeply grateful for the honor, “tonight is really a celebration of this organization, and those who’ve helped it to grow into an essential instrument for diplomacy and for peace. The impact of this work can be difficult to quantify, but its importance is clear. … It’s the expertise and credibility of organizations like the East-West Center that build the personal and enduring relationships we need to help prevent conflict. 

So thank you to everyone who’s helped turn what was once an ambitious idea into a gem of the entire region. May we continue to bring communities together, and work for peace.”  

About East-West Center’s Asia-Pacific Community Building Award 

The Asia Pacific Community Building Award recognizes individuals whose vision and professional and personal accomplishments exemplify the mission of the East-West Center to help build a more peaceful, prosperous Indo-Pacific region. It is given to someone whose work has promoted regional and global community-building. Past recipients include master traditional navigator Nainoa Thompson; former Hawai‘i Gov.  George R. Ariyoshi; His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand; US Senator Daniel K. Inouye; Houghton “Buck” and Doreen Freeman of the Freeman Foundation; former President of the Philippines Corazon Aquino; Dr. Genshitsu (Soshitsu XV) Sen, former Grand Master of the Urasenke Tea Tradition; and Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman of India’s Tata Trusts. 

At a gala dinner at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel this evening attended by some 380 East-West Center supporters and guests, US Senator Brian Schatz was awarded the Center’s Asia Pacific Community Building Award, which recognizes individuals whose vision and accomplishments exemplify the Center’s mission of helping to build better understanding and relations across the Indo-Pacific region. (View a photo gallery of the event.)

The award ceremony included a brief congratulatory video from former President Barack Obama, which was played as a surprise for the senator. Calling the award “richly deserved,” Obama said Schatz has “always understood the importance of strengthening ties between the United States and Asia. Our history is bound up with the history of Asian nations and communities, and our future will be too. … That’s why I’m so grateful for everything you, and the East-West Center, are doing to build cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.” 

East-West Center Board of Governors Chair James K. Scott, Vice Chair Peter Ho and President Suzanne Vares-Lum presented Schatz with a wooden paddle statuette representing the award. 

In his acceptance remarks, Schatz said that while he was deeply grateful for the honor, “tonight is really a celebration of this organization, and those who’ve helped it to grow into an essential instrument for diplomacy and for peace. The impact of this work can be difficult to quantify, but its importance is clear. … It’s the expertise and credibility of organizations like the East-West Center that build the personal and enduring relationships we need to help prevent conflict. 

So thank you to everyone who’s helped turn what was once an ambitious idea into a gem of the entire region. May we continue to bring communities together, and work for peace.”  

About East-West Center’s Asia-Pacific Community Building Award 

The Asia Pacific Community Building Award recognizes individuals whose vision and professional and personal accomplishments exemplify the mission of the East-West Center to help build a more peaceful, prosperous Indo-Pacific region. It is given to someone whose work has promoted regional and global community-building. Past recipients include master traditional navigator Nainoa Thompson; former Hawai‘i Gov.  George R. Ariyoshi; His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand; US Senator Daniel K. Inouye; Houghton “Buck” and Doreen Freeman of the Freeman Foundation; former President of the Philippines Corazon Aquino; Dr. Genshitsu (Soshitsu XV) Sen, former Grand Master of the Urasenke Tea Tradition; and Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman of India’s Tata Trusts.