Students are invited to apply now for the Pacific & Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) and East-West Center’s 2027 Hawaiʻi Sister-State Study Tours.
Hawaiʻi public high school students can now apply to serve as Student Ambassadors in the 2027 Hawaiʻi Sister-State Study Tours Program. Offered by the Pacific & Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) and the East-West Center, with funding from the State of Hawaiʻi, the statewide global education program selects one student from each public high school in the state to visit one of three of Hawaiʻi’s sister-state destinations from March 13-26, 2027. Participating sister-state destinations include: 1) Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, Philippines; 2) Jeju Island, South Korea; and 3) Okinawa, Japan.
The program is open to students in grades 9-12 at Hawaiʻi public high schools, with preference given to 10th- and 11th-grade students. PAAC encourages students from all islands and communities across Hawaiʻi to apply, and previous international travel experience is not required. Applications close on Oct. 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. HST. For complete eligibility requirements, program details and to apply, visit www.paachawaii.org/sister-state-2027.
The full program, valued at more than $8,800 per student, costs participating families no more than $500 and includes pre-trip orientation and preparation, international airfare, lodging, ground transportation, meals, travel insurance and scheduled program activities. Payment plans and need-based waivers are available so that financial need does not prevent eligible students from applying.
“We want local students and families across Hawaiʻi to know that an international learning experience of this caliber is available to them,” said Niki Shishido, executive director of PAAC. “We’re looking for young people who are curious, adaptable, willing to step outside their comfort zones and ready to represent their school, community and Hawaiʻi. The purpose of this program is to allow our local students to bring back with them new perspectives, foster relationships and develop ideas that can benefit all of us here at home.”
Three Destinations, One Statewide Delegation Students apply to the program rather than a specific destination and, if selected, will be assigned to one of three study tours. Each destination offers a unique opportunity to explore Hawaiʻi’s connections with its sister-state communities:
● In the Ilocos region of the Philippines: Students explore more than a century of connections between Hawaiʻi and the Philippines, alongside contemporary ties involving culture, education, workforce development and economic exchange.
● On Jeju Island, South Korea: Students examine the experiences of two island communities with shared interests ranging from tourism and local industries to food systems, education and sustainable island development.
● In Okinawa, Japan: Students explore more than 125 years of migration and family connections with Hawaiʻi while learning how the two island communities continue to engage through cultural, educational and government partnerships.
Building on the Success of 2026
The 2027 Hawaiʻi Sister-State Study Tours program builds on PAAC and the East-West Center’s 2026 Hawaiʻi Sister-State Study Tours Program, which brought together 42 Student Ambassadors from 42 public high schools across Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui and Oʻahu. For one in four participants, the Study Tour was their first time traveling outside the United States. Following the program, 89% reported a greater understanding of global diplomacy, 91% reported greater confidence representing something larger than themselves, 86% felt better prepared to navigate unfamiliar situations and 98% reported building meaningful relationships with their cohort.
“Spending a week invested in the connections between Hawaiʻi and Jeju Island inspired me to learn more about global issues and other cultures,” said Jhera Mae Paulo, a Waiʻanae High School student and 2026 Jeju Island Student Ambassador. “Although we are both islands, I didn’t know we shared similar struggles, like tourism and economic growth. I want to explore more solutions for keeping locals, especially the younger generation, home to support their community.”
In 2027, Student Ambassadors will build on that experience through a global perspectives research project, working with their delegation and mentors to investigate a challenge shared by Hawaiʻi and their host destination.
Students will develop recommendations based on what they learn abroad and present their findings at the Student Ambassador Showcase. Students, parents, guardians and educators interested in learning more about the 2027 Hawaiʻi Sister-State Study Tours can attend a virtual information session on Sept. 18, 2026, from 3-4 p.m. HST. For complete eligibility requirements, program details and to apply, visit www.paachawaii.org/sister-state-2027. About Pacific & Asian Affairs Council (PAAC)
About Pacific & Asian Affairs Council (PAAC)
Founded in 1954, the Pacific & Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) is a Hawaiʻi-based, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting understanding and empowering engagement on global and international issues, with a focus on Hawaiʻi high school youth and their role in the Asia-Pacific region. Through statewide conferences, school-based programs, leadership opportunities and international Study Tours, PAAC helps young people develop the knowledge, relationships and skills to engage with an increasingly interconnected world.
About the East-West Center
The East-West Center promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia and the Pacific through cooperative study, research and dialogue. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1960, the Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise and develop policy options.
