New Horizons: Economic and Political Implications of the Changing Global Landscape
Welcome of PBEC's 33rd International General Meeting
The Honorable Benjamin J. Cayetano
Governor
State of Hawaii, United States
Mr. Chairman (Dr. Helmut Sohmen), Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished business and government leaders from across the Pacific Basin, good morning and Aloha.
On behalf of the people of Hawaii, I want to express my warmest greetings and welcome you and your families. We are delighted and honored that PBEC has chosen Hawaii for its 33rd Annual International General Meeting.
I've had the privilege of attending four PBEC International General Meetings. Looking at the list of speakers, I can see that this year's meetings promise to be as superior as in years past.
All of you know of Hawaii as a top visitor destination. Today I want to talk about Hawaii as a business destination and its connection to the Pacific Basin.
Hawaii is a unique American State. It is America's most western state. Hawaii's history, its multicultural society, demonstrates its strong roots more to the nations in the Pacific, than Europe. Unlike our sister states on the continental United States, Hawaii's population is Pacific, rather than western based.
Approximately seventy percent of our people trace their roots to Asia and the Pacific. Nearly forty-six percent of our people are Asian Americans, and approximately twenty-four percent are Polynesians.
Hawaii has given much to the rich diversity of America. Indeed, Hawaii's political leadership reflects this diversity. Hawaii gave America the first Japanese American and the first Polynesian American to serve as governors of an American state.
The first Chinese American, Japanese American and Polynesian American to serve in the United States Senate were sons of Hawaii.
The first Asian American woman to sit in the United States House of Representatives-Congresswoman Patsy Mink-is the daughter plantation workers, who trace their roots to Japan.
Today, the Chief Justice of our State Supreme Court, the highest court of our state, traces his ancestry back to Korea.
My father's homeland is Pangasinan in the Philippines. I trace my roots back to the Republic of the Philippines.
Clearly, the historical and cultural connections between Hawaii and the Pacific are strong-more powerful than that of any American state.
As it has been said, Hawaii is so strongly connected to Asia and the Pacific, that when Asia catches a cold, Hawaii may catch the flu, and we have.
If you haven't been to Hawaii before, by now you can see and experience its beauty and the aloha spirit of our people.
But Hawaii is more than a place of natural beauty and friendly people.
We have assets that make Hawaii a good place to do business.
Hawaii's educational institutions are excellent. The University of Hawaii is one of eighty-eight Carnegie One research universities and excels in astronomy, biotechnology, engineering, ocean marine sciences, tropical agricultural and international business focusing on the Pacific Basin.
The East West Center is an international institution bringing scholars from East and West together. The East West Center has more than 47,000 graduates sprinkled throughout the Pacific, many of whom have achieved high levels of leadership in business and government.
America's military is centered in Hawaii for good reason. From the Commander in Chief of the Pacific headquartered in Hawaii, America's strategy for protecting the Pacific Basin is carried out. Our military community in the State provides tremendous opportunity. The resources of America's military in Hawaii are extensive and considerable.
Hawaii's telecommunications infrastructure is one of the finest and most comprehensive in the United States. We have more fiber optic cable laid than practically anyplace in the world. As a result, we have eliminated the disadvantage of distance. Today, because of the infrastructure and investment made in a well-educated work force, it is more affordable to do business here with New York and Tokyo in the same day, than other places in the United States.
Hawaii is the number one health state in the nation. Our hospitals, doctors and medical professionals are as good as anywhere and mirror people in the Pacific Basin.
These are just some of the assets Hawaii counts as business advantages. Throughout the next three days, our business community and state and county governments, will be giving you much more information about business opportunities in our state.
While here, please spend time enjoying Hawaii's natural beauty, our many cultures and experience the warm aloha spirit of our people. We hope you leave here knowing, that Hawaii is not just a nice place to vacation-it is a good place to do international business as well.
Aloha and thank you.