Gov. Linda Lingle met Arroyo at the presidential palace, where they witnessed the unveiling of stamps commemorating the 100th year of the arrival of the first Filipino farm workers in Hawai'i and shared experiences in decentralizing government functions.

"I also thanked the president for the partnership and the support she's given our country in the war against terror," Lingle later told reporters. "The Philippines in many ways is a first line of defense for us, so the cooperation among the defense forces here is very important."

She said she invited Arroyo to visit Hawai'i but that no date has been set.

Asked about rape charges facing four U.S. Marines in the Philippines, Lingle said she hoped the impact on Philippine-U.S. relations will be more positive than negative because it will show that their Visiting Forces Agreement "has actually worked because these people will be tried in the judicial system here in your country."

The Marines charged in the Nov. 1 incident at Subic Bay are not based in Hawai'i.

Lingle said an agreement will be signed during her weeklong visit to have Hawai'i's community colleges help strengthen the nursing programs of Philippine universities so Philippine nurses have a better chance at passing Hawai'i state board exams. Hawaii faces a severe shortage of nurses.

Lingle said her 178-strong delegation includes many businessmen, and that the visit is seen as strengthening bilateral trade ties.

Lingle, who arrived late Tuesday, was to address a business group on Friday before heading to Ilocos Norte province. She will also visit the provinces of Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur, where officials will unveil a marker at Port Salumague, where the first 15 Filipino plantation workers boarded a ship for Hawai'i 100 years ago.

She will return Tuesday to Manila, where she will meet with U.S. Embassy officials and deliver the keynote speech at a women leaders' luncheon.