Retired Army Maj. Gen. Suzanne Vares Lum took the helm as head of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies as it was marking its 30th anniversary. She previously served as president of the East-West Center.
HPR spoke with the Leilehua High School alum on Wednesday about the purpose of the center and what the state of affairs in the Middle East means for security and U.S. allies in the Pacific.
Interview Highlights
On the purpose of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
VARES-LUM: What we do is we educate, connect and empower. And those are key critical things. By investing in those emerging security practitioner leaders in the United States, here in Hawaiʻi, and across the Indo-Pacific, to come together in one place in the middle of Waikīkī and connecting with the place here in what we call Maluhia Hall. We call it Maluhia because it means peace and being able to bring together and have courageous non-attribution conversations about: How do we solve problems? And it is important today. We see that in this vast region of the Indo-Pacific, where we have 36 nations, 14 time zones, and here on Oʻahu is the home of the Indo-Pacific Command, the most consequential region from here, commanding and controlling all U.S. forces from the California coast to the west coast of India.
On the uncertainty of the Iran war
VARES-LUM: I think now, more than ever, places, institutions like the Asia-Pacific Center are even more critical to have those discussions about how, what are the reflections? What are people thinking about?... And being able to be in the same place and space to talk about those key critical issues, that's what we offer in times where it's uncertain and we don't know the direction and how people will respond. I think that's when you have to talk more. That's when the dialogue has to happen, and that's when people need to come to the table to look for solutions.
On the Asia-Pacific Center's plans for the future
VARES-LUM: We continue on with all of our programs, projects, workshops in the region…With all of these events coming up, like LANPAC, RIMPAC, I think moving forward on the allies and partners, reassuring our allies, looking at creative ways on how we can work together to ensure deterrence and defense of our homelands, ensuring that we can fly, sail and operate — and we see how important that is on the maritime space. Here we are in the middle of the Pacific, surrounded by water, the most isolated populated place on the planet, and how important our ability to secure our maritime trade is, and we're seeing that right now.
More information about the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Waikīkī, named for the late Sen. Daniel Inouye, can be found on its website.
This story aired on The Conversation on March 12, 2026. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m.
