Former President Barack Obama’s presidential library won’t be placed in his childhood home, but Obama offered Hawaii a consolation prize: a workshop at the University of Hawaii.

This rather modest development may disappoint those who think the 44th president’s deep Hawaii roots should be celebrated more prominently. But UH President David Lassner seemed pleased — “from my perspective, this is great,” he said — and was encouraged that Hawaii would serve as a base for Obama’s Asia-Pacific initiatives.

“We chose to host this workshop in Hawai‘i because in addition to President Obama’s deep ties to the state, Hawai‘i is uniquely positioned geographically and culturally to bring together the East and the West, offering a blend of tradition and innovation,” the Obama Foundation’s website noted.

The foundation chose the East-West Center, sited on UH’s Manoa campus, for a series of workshops this week to help build the foundation’s nascent Asia-Pacific Leaders Program.

More than 20 emerging leaders from 16 countries and territories will take part, including two from Hawaii — Leanne Kealoha Fox and Marvin Kaleo Manuel. Others come from around the region, from New Zealand and Samoa to China.

It’s hoped that the program, boosted by Obama’s international prominence, will develop young leaders in the Asia-Pacific region who can improve their communities in ways large and small. The foundation launched a similar program last year in Africa.

A ground-level effort to change the world for the better — it’s hard to argue with that, especially if the work happens here.