The East-West Center was established to facilitate Cold War-era diplomacy between the United States and its allies through technical interchange.

[2]: 108 "The East–West Center originated as a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa faculty initiative with a February 16, 1959, memo from professor Murray Turnbull, then acting Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, to political science professor Norman Meller, then chairperson of the faculty senate, that proposed the creation of an International College of Cultural Affairs.

[3] Two months later, following radio reports of an April 16, 1959 speech in Washington, D.C. by then Senator Lyndon Johnson (D-Texas) that proposed the creation of an international university in Hawaii "as a meeting place for the intellectuals of the East and the West," history professor John Stalker and Meller urged President Snyder to respond at once to Johnson's suggestion.

[4] With the prospect of federal funding, President Snyder appointed a faculty committee chaired by Turnbull to rapidly prepare a substantive proposal for creating an international college.

[8] On October 25, 1960, the University of Hawaii signed a grant-in-aid agreement with the State Department to establish and operate the East–West Center, and received its first installment of $1.1 million in federal funding on November 8, 1960.

[2]: 108–109  Among those favoring strong federal control was Congressman John Rooney, who in 1962 criticized the East-West Center for what he described as "not properly screening applicants" and thereby allowing "left wing foul balls" into the program.

[2]: 101–102  The Taiwan Garrison Command alleged that he had read communist literature including works by Mao Zedong while at the East-West Center library.

[2]: 103  The East-West Center administration and student associations sent an observer to Chen's July 1968 trial where he was convicted of sedition and sentenced to seven years of imprisonment.

[24][25] The Research Program conducts studies on economic development, trade, energy, governance, politics, security, conflict reduction, population, health, and environment.

East–West Seminars bring professionals from government, civil society, business and the media together for short-term dialogue and exchange programs to share knowledge and address issues of regional and global concern.

The Office of External Affairs (OEA) connects the resources and research of the EWC with the local, national, and international community through educational outreach, public programs, briefings, and media relations.

Within the OEA is the News and Information office (provides EWC research findings, opinion pieces, and analysis of issues to journalists and the public), the Arts Program (presents performances and exhibitions illuminating the cultural values and art forms of national and ethnic traditions in the region), and the Alumni Office (works with an international network of professionals from more than 50 countries who have had a past affiliation with the EWC).

[29] Increased climate and geopolitical tensions within the region has raised the profile of the institution after years of declining budget approproations, with a return to federal funding in excess of $20 million under President Biden.

This is a predominantly graduate student dormitory and most of the residents are mainly recipients of East West Center scholarships or are affiliated with their programs.

A large majority of the residents are international students from the Asia-Pacific region like China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, and Indonesia.