Pacific and Asian Affairs Council grew out of the Honolulu Branch of the Institute of Pacific Relations. Against the background of mounting criticism of the IPR during the McCarthy era, the Honolulu Branch elected to disassociate itself from the IPR and to reorganize as Pacific and Asian Affairs Council in December 1953, totally severing all connections with the Institute of Pacific Relations. Since that time PAAC has focused on providing knowledge of Asia and the Pacific to secondary school students and adults, primarily within Hawaii. With this focus, PAAC began receiving funds through the Hawaii State Department of Education from appropriations by the State Legislature, though it remains a non-profit organization, with tax-exempt status. For the past twenty or more years, the headquarters of PAAC have been located in the East West Center. Along with its secondary education program, PAAC also sponsors a speakers program directed to the whole community and maintains an affiliation with the World Affairs Councils of America. PAAC remains one of the important international organizations in Hawaii.
From the description of Pacific and Asian Affairs Council records, 1953-1988 1953-1980. (University of Hawaii at Manoa). WorldCat record id: 663411583
