COURTESY EAST-WEST CENTER
People enjoy the scenery at the Japanese garden behind the East-West Center’s Jefferson Hall in 2007.
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I participated in the spring East-West Center Board of Governors meeting. What’s astonishing was their glib manner when humility was required given the self-inflicted deterioration.
Every executive administration since 2009 told the EWC to develop independent funds. The center had 15 years to fix it.
Four things stood out: the mixed-message of a “strong possibility federal funding reinstatement” (so why the staff cuts?); the underwhelming goal of $2.5 million fundraising in 2025 — not inspiring; EWC will approach foreign governments for support (they haven’t read the Foreign Agents Registration Act); Hawaii Legislature will bail them out, the state can pay for their mismanagement.
EWC’s search for a CEO is no longer relevant. It is now a merger management opportunity. EWC must act fast; there isn’t much optionality.
The EWC may survive. But coming late to realities, confusing statements and low expectations don’t offer much hope.
Bromme H. Cole
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