Pacific Leaders Gather in Hawaii for Business Summit

Summit aims to promote private sector investments and contracts across Oceania

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Leaders from Pacific Island nations and territories gathered this week at the East-West Center in Manoa, Hawaii for an inaugural diplomatic and business summit aimed at promoting private sector investments and contracts across island communities in Oceania. The summit brought together representatives from more than a dozen countries and over 80 companies, including major corporations like Salesforce, Boeing, Google, and JPMorgan, as well as local Hawaiian businesses.

Why it matters

The summit is part of a broader effort by the U.S. to counter China's growing influence in the Pacific region, as many island nations have signed onto China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. The U.S. is seeking to maintain a strategic footing in the Pacific through increased private sector investment and partnerships.

The details

The two-day Pacific Agenda summit featured roundtables and dialogues between Pacific Island leaders and American corporate executives, investors, and experts. Topics discussed included infrastructure, energy, tourism, telecommunications, and satellite technology. The summit was co-organized by the East-West Center, U.S. State Department, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

  • The summit took place on Monday and Tuesday this week.
  • It wrapped up on Tuesday evening.

The players

Jeremiah Manele

Solomon Islands Prime Minister and Pacific Islands Forum Chair.

Christopher Landau

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State.

Surangel Whipps Jr.

Palauan President.

Samuel Paparo

INDOPACOM Commander.

Josh Green

Governor of Hawaii and member of the East-West Center's board of governors.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We've seen other countries coming in the Pacific in quite an aggressive manner. And in a sense, maybe that's not a bad thing, and it's given us a little bit of a kick in the butt to up our game in this region.”

— Christopher Landau, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

“We do need you in the private sector to move in and to help us build the vibrant commerce that brings this infrastructure to life. I ask you to work with our partners to develop and connect markets, to lower risk, to enhance transparency and to ensure a level playing field.”

— Samuel Paparo, INDOPACOM Commander (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

“United States administration has prioritized some key areas that they're focusing on. But at the same time, it's a free conversation, and we're also putting on the table our own priorities.”

— Fatafehi Fakafanua, Tongan Prime Minister (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

What’s next

Manele said he would like Landau to help establish a Pacific trade investment office in the U.S. similar to those in New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan, and Geneva to further connect trade and investment opportunities.

The takeaway

The summit represents a renewed U.S. effort to counter China's growing influence in the Pacific region by promoting private sector investment and partnerships with Pacific Island nations. However, tensions remain as island leaders continue to prioritize climate change as the greatest security threat, while the current U.S. administration has rolled back environmental regulations.