The first stop on my voyage to China is a place most Americans know well, or at least they think they do - the state of Hawaii. Millions of people come to the Aloha state every year for beaches and luaus. My hosts from the East-West Center are based here for a different reason. Because of Hawaii’s geography and its people, it is a vital link between the U.S. and Asia.
The strategic importance of this place used to be well known. It's why the U.S. built up a big military presence here and why the Japanese chose to attack Pearl Harbor and draw America into World War II. However, some of this was forgotten as the U.S. shifted focus to places like Russia and the Middle East.
Everywhere I go in Hawaii today, I see a resurgence in the state’s Asian identity. Hawaiians pepper more of their indigenous language into everyday conversation. The state’s many ethnic groups (including five percent of the population descended from Chinese immigrants) are becoming more prominent. Everyone here is extremely proud to be American, however as one native confided, Hawaiians in some ways find it easier to relate to other Pacific islands than the "lower 48."
As I look at the skyline of Honolulu, for some reason I keep thinking of Saint Louis. The Missouri city’s massive arch marks a time when it was the "Gateway to the West" where so many pioneering Americans would go forth to make their fortunes. Will Hawaii someday need a similar monument to mark its status as a vital entryway into China and the rest of Asia? Only time will tell.
