The Association for Asian Studies (AAS) and International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS) held one of the largest conferences ever in the field of Asia studies from March 31-April 3 at the Center.
The first-ever joint conference, which drew 4,400 participants from 65 countries, exceeded previously expected attendance by 1,400 attendees.
The conference included more than 750 panel demonstrations featuring recent findings in a variety of disciplines, including women’s studies, education, and political science. It also included a retrospective on AAS, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, as well as film screenings, a 133-booth exhibit featuring recent academic publications, and addresses by renowned historians and writers.
Conference organizers also introduced cultural elements throughout the events this year, including performances by the Kenny Endo taiko drummers, Royal Hawaiian Band, and the University of Hawai`i Department of Theatre and Dance. In honor of the conference, the Honolulu Academy of Arts displayed highlights from its Asian art collections throughout its permanent galleries.
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Paul van der Velde, CEO of ICAS, appeared on Hawaii News Now Sunrise to discuss highlights from the meeting.
