S. Korea, isle leaders to
discuss economic relationship

Hawaii is seeking to promote
growth around the Pacific Rim

---

By Russ Lynch
rlynch@starbulletin.com

Hawaii state and business officials were to meet with Korean officials in Honolulu today to discuss Hawaii's role in the first South Korea-U.S. Economic Council meeting to be held in Seoul June 10-11.

Joining Hawaii are delegates from Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington in what Seiji Naya, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism called "a tremendous opportunity for Hawaii" to get involved in the planning for the first meeting of western U.S. states with the international U.S-Korea organization.

Department officials said Pacific Rim economic and technological growth is boosting the need for cooperation between Korea and U.S. interests in the Pacific and there is a role for Hawaii in that.

The Korea-U.S. Economic Council is a private nonprofit organization, approved by the government of the Republic of Korea.

Hawaii played a leading role in the formation of the Japan-Hawaii Economic Council which has worked since the 1970s to build relationships like those the Koreans are seeking.

Although Hawaii is just the meeting place to organize the nation-to-nation meeting at mid-year and no plans have been disclosed for a direct Hawaii-Korea association, the state is calling this a chance to get more involved in promoting bilateral economic and technological growth around the Pacific Rim.

Among proposals being worked on are visa waivers to ease travel from Korea to Hawaii and ways to increase the number of airline seats between the two.

Korean Airlines has four flights a week from Korea to Honolulu, down from seven before the Sept. 11 terrorist incidents but officials of the airline say they hope business will rise again.