The recent Maluhia 2023 workshop focused on building a better understanding of strategic policy in the region. Thirty-seven senior officials from countries within and outside the Indo-Pacific region gathered at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) in Honolulu, Hawaii, from April 25-27 to achieve this goal.

According to workshop lead Lori Forman, the Maluhia workshop is the highest-ranking recurring event held at DKI APCSS. The workshop builds on the successes and experiences of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Workshops held by DKI APCSS since 2018.

Said Forman, “[For Maluhia] we invite participants at the rank equivalent of a U.S. assistant secretary or higher to engage in policy-oriented discussions.”
The theme for Maluhia 2023 was “Promoting a Collaborative Policy Environment. “Participants discussed the major enablers and inhibitors of international collaboration in the current security environment. According to Foreman, some of these enablers and inhibitors have existed for years, but the current security environment has made them more pronounced and acute.

During the two-and-a-half days, participants shared their perspectives on the prioritization of regional issues, challenges, and trends reflected in their countries’ current Indo-Pacific strategies. They sought to find ways to preserve elements of strategic cooperation in a new security paradigm.
Named after the Hawaiian word for “peace” and “security,” the Maluhia workshops provide an annual forum for exploring opportunities and challenges to enhance regional security in the Indo-Pacific.

At the close of the workshop, Forman expressed gratitude for the close collaboration with colleagues in the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense Indo-Pacific Security Affairs. The inaugural event laid a solid foundation for future workshops, and DKI APCSS looks forward to welcoming senior officials back to the center next year.