Zócalo Public Square

As Asia continues its rapid advance in the global economy, the resources of Hawaii—as well as its strategic geography—uniquely position it as a portal into the future of relations between the U.S., Asia, and the world. Irene Hirano Inouye, president of the U.S.-Japan Council, moderated a Smithsonian/Zócalo “What It Means to Be American” panel supported by the Daniel K. Inouye Institute that explored how Hawaii is fulfilling its role on the global stage and what it could be doing better. She was joined by Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, Kurt W. Tong, U.S. Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau, and Roy’s Restaurant chef and founder Roy Yamaguchi.