The Hon. Henry Tuakeu Puna, former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and recent Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, has been elected as one of five international members of the East-West Center (EWC) Board of Governors.
“We are delighted that Prime Minister Puna has agreed to join us on the EWC Board,” said John Waihe’e III, Board Chairman and former Governor of Hawai’i. “His deep understanding of Pacific political, economic, and cultural dynamics will be invaluable to the Center’s mission of fostering cooperation across the region.”
Puna expressed his gratitude for the opportunity: “I am no stranger to the East-West Center and am extremely honored to serve on the board. This role will allow me to continue serving the Pacific in a different capacity.”
The EWC Board comprises 18 members, with five appointed by the Governor of Hawai’i, five by the U.S. Secretary of State, and five international members elected from Asia and the Pacific.
Puna, who served as Cook Islands Prime Minister from 2010 to 2020, brings extensive experience in regional cooperation, sustainable development, and climate change advocacy to the board.