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.
Four of the six buildings were completed and opened in September 1962: Edmondson Hall (a four-story building containing classrooms and laboratories), Kennedy Theatre (an 800-seat theatre), Hale Kuahine (a four-story women's dormitory for 120 students), and Lincoln Hall (a four-story residence hall for senior scholars and faculty).