Junior Ambassadors selected to represent Hawaii at the 37th Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention in Fukuoka, Japan
Pictured: 2025 APCC - Hawaii Delegation
Front row (L-R): Eleanor Noguchi, Lilian Polley, Chaperone Wendy Lum, Wesley Butler, Milo Turek, and Peace Ambassador Kala Soares
The Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) is proud to announce the selection of four Junior Ambassadors (JAs) who will represent JASH and Hawaii at the 37th Annual Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention (APCC) in Fukuoka, Japan, during the summer of 2025.
The APCC is a cultural exchange program designed to foster a deeper appreciation for diverse cultures, promote mutual understanding and friendship, cultivate international awareness among young people, and contribute to world peace and coexistence. Through this experience, the Junior Ambassadors will have the opportunity to build an international network of friendships.
Over the next several months, the four selected Junior Ambassadors—two boys and two girls, all aged 11 at the time of travel—will undergo a specialized training program designed by JASH to prepare them for their journey to Japan in July. During their time in Fukuoka, they will join over 160 fellow Junior Ambassadors from more than 60 countries and cities across the Asia-Pacific region in a global youth camp. Following this, they will participate in a homestay, each living with a Japanese host family. This transformative experience aims to help them develop into globally minded individuals with a strong sense of social responsibility.
The 2025 Junior Ambassadors representing the United States of America-Hawaii Delegation are:
Milo Turek – Maryknoll School
Wesley Butler – Red Hill Elementary School
Eleanor Noguchi – Manoa Elementary School
Lilian Polley – Waikiki Elementary School
They will be accompanied by chaperone Wendy Lum, who has been actively engaged with JASH’s educational programs, having first connected with the program when her own children participated as Junior Ambassadors.
Additionally, the USA-Hawaii Delegation is honored to send APCC alumni Kala Soares (Junior Ambassador 2018) as a 2025 Peace Ambassador. He will take part in the Peace Ambassador Camp, which is integrated into the global youth camp.
Since 2003, JASH has proudly served as the Liaison Office for the Hawaii delegation. To learn more about the APCC program, please visit the JASH website at https://www.jashawaii.org/education/apcc or contact Educational Programs Coordinator Saki Honma at shonma@jashawaii.org.
