Programs cover topics that span the entire spectrum of the US-Japan relationship. Art and cultural programs are also conducted. Programs for high school and elementary school students are a high priority. JASH membership is open to all. The current membership numbers approximately 1,000 and is a representative cross-section of Hawai'i's community.
Corporate membership comprises a mix of Japanese and American companies.
The JASH Board of Trustees include many community leaders. JASH is affiliated with the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Foundation, which provides scholarships to Americans in UH graduate programs to study in Japan and Japanese students to study at the University of Hawai'i. It serves as a focal point in the state for public access information, resources, and activities relative to the learning, appreciation, and perpetuation of the cultural heritage and legacy of the Japanese in Hawai'i. In public meetings, conferences, and seminars, it provides a forum for nationally and internationally renowned diplomats, business and government leaders, journalists, and scholars. PAAC also conducts educational outreach for Hawai'i's public and private high schools and community colleges to help enrich the curricula in the area of international affairs.