New Hawaii-based nonprofit
to honor China’s Zhou Enlai

The establishment of the Hawaii-based Zhou Enlai Peace Institute will be announced Monday, Nov. 11 at a special luncheon program. Former Governor John Waihee will serve as goodwill ambassador at the event, representing the Hawaiian people and diverse communities, for the cause of peace and aloha.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger will deliver a video message, members of the Zhou family and officials of the Chinese central government will be present, and members of APEC delegations and Hawaii's governmental and business leaders will receive invitations to attend, according to the Institute's co-founders Michael North and Xiao Fang Zhou, the late premier's grand-niece.

"We communicate peace through heroes," said North. "The United States has Martin Luther King. South Africa has Nelson Mandela; India has Gandhi. All became a source of inspiration throughout the world.”

The leaders meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is set for Nov. 12-13, with other meetings to begin as early as Nov. 7.

"To understand China from a Chinese perspective, we need to understand Zhou Enlai,” North said. “Xiao Fang and I believe that understanding can be nurtured in Hawaii, which has a special mix of the aloha spirit and diversity of people and cultures that is warmly embraced."

The new Zhou Enlai Peace Institute's two-hour special luncheon begins at noon on Friday, Nov. 11, at the Coral Ballroom in the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Proceeds will be used to support the First International Zhou Enlai Peace Awards, in Beijing in February 2012. Tickets are $200 for individuals and $500 for couples. For tickets, visit http://zhouenlai.eventbrite.com or call (808) 282-9598.