Lingle's first overseas trade promotion tour since an expedition to Israel in May 2004 will include meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao and South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-Chan. She will also chat with business leaders and media in both countries.

"I am more excited than anyone about this trip because of the potential it holds for our state," Lingle said. "Everything we do on this trip is really laying the groundwork for a long pickup in the relationship between our state and China and Korea."

Ted Liu, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, said the trip that begins June 8 is vital for Hawai'i as ties between the world's economies grow.

"There is clearly relentless globalization going on around us. Like it or not, it's here," Liu said. "Countries and regions that will do well are the ones that are connected to the global economy."

One highlight would be the signing of an agreement with a Chinese company that supports high-technology startups, Liu said.

The deal with Zhongguancun International Incubator, Inc. — from China's version of Silicon Valley — arranges for the company to provide office space and support for Hawai'i high-technology companies in China.

Hawai'i, meanwhile, would do the same for Chinese companies here.

Travelers from China, the world's fastest growing economy, soared 34.4 percent in 2004. Increasingly prosperous Shanghai is a promising source of travelers, the governor's office said.

"When the floodgates start to open and China starts coming our way, Hawai'i (will) be prepared, because our culture, our people, and our Aloha spirit is what they want," said Mike Nelson, the chief operating officer of Ko Olina Resort & Marina and a member of Lingle's delegation.