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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0848.003 1998-2000 Stephen K. Yamashiro ~w<V "'.N Harry A. Takahashi Mayor Managing Director Henry Cho Deputy Managing Director ~Ol M• COUNTY OF HAWATI 25 Aupuni Street, Room 215 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252 • (808) 961-8211 FM(808)961-6553 KONA* 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103 • KailKona, Hawai'i 96740 (808) 329-5226 • Fax(808)326-r(16_3 August 10, 2000 TO: AARON S. Y. CHUNG FROM: R. B. LEGAZPI, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SUBJECT: SISTER-CITY PROGRAM Per your request regarding the annual report on the status of our sister-city programs, the following report is now submitted as required by Ordinance 93-102: OSHIMA ISLAND - JAPAN Established in February 1962, via Resolution No. 416. This sisterhood is still viable due to the local ethnic ties. No official visits exchanged except courtesy calls made by Oshima residents. RECOMMENDATION: Continue relationship, as a joint of meeting of mayors from Sumoto-City, Ikaho-machi, Hawai-cho and Oshima Island (Mayor Fujii) was held in Hawai-cho, Japan on July 24, 2000, to evaluate each relationship to enhance its successful continuance. Another joint meeting is scheduled in the summer of 2001 to be hosted by Ikaho-machi. LEGAZPI CITY - PHILIPPINES Established in August 1970, via Resolution 268. RECOMMENDATION - Last effort to revive it was made on December 27, 1996, with no response from Legazpi City. As such, recommend that this relationship be terminated by Council resolution as required by Ordinance 93-102. Comm. NoI94VA1.403 File No._v Ref. To: Ref. Date 6 0 9 2000 Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung Page 2 August 10, 2000 HUALIEN. TAIWAN Established in September, 1971, via Resolution No. 404. Last official visit was made in April, 1996, when 18 government and business officials visited the Big Island. RECOMMENDATION: Maintain relationship as the Chinese Civic Association (CCA) has indicated its support for continuance. We have proposed a written "sponsor" agreement with the CCA which remains pending. SAO MIGUEL, AZORES. PORTUGUAL Established in March, 1984, via Resolution No. 859. In 1992, a delegation of the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce (HIPCC) visited Sao Miguel. Since then, no recorded activity from either side has been experienced. RECOMMENDATION: Relationship should be terminated by Council resolution as required by Ordinance 93-102. NAGO CITY, OKINAWA Established in April 1986, via Resolution No. 154. This is our showcase sister-city program, with official visitations and courtesy calls being exchanged on a regular basis. Most recent and major accomplishments were the dual major events of the September 4, 1996, celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the sister-city relationship coupled with the signing of the International Exchange Agreement between the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and Meio University of Okinawa. Over 80 government officials and visitors from Nago were involved. A reception that followed at the UHH attracted over 200 participants. In March 1998, Mayor Yamashiro attended the first commencement ceremonies at the Meio University. The mayor of Nago City was invited to attend the joint meeting of sister-city mayors, in Hawai-cho, Japan on July 21, 2000, but had to decline due to the G-8 meetings being held in Okinawa at that time. A courtesy call will be made by Deputy Mayor Miyagi on August 17, 2000. RECOMMENDATION: This is the most active and meaningful program, which can be attributed to the involvement of the Hui Okinawa. The agreement between the two universities is very significant and such an achievement or similar endeavor should be the goal of the other sister-city programs. This being the more active and successful program, more County support should be given to the Hui Okinawa, to pursue more exchanges with Nago City, be it cultural, economical, educational or any other meaningful endeavors. Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung Page 3 August 10, 2000 LA SERENA, CHILE Established in November 1994, via Resolution No. 324-94. At the invitation of La Serena Mayor Penafiel, a visitation to La Serena was scheduled for February 1996; however, due to lack of planning time, it had to be deferred. The initial thrust was from Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Smith, then with the Mauna Kea Observatory, who transferred to the La Serena Observatory. Potentially, that connection between the observatories was a good reason for the sisterhood. The Smiths have since made several visits to the Big Island. In November and December 1998, a video conference from the Gemini Observatory Center and La Serena involving Mayor Yamashiro, and students of Waiakea Elementary School through a portable star lab planetarium was held. RECOMMENDATION: Should be maintained despite the limited activity because of the scientific, high tech implications this relationship can bring to both cities. A community organization from the Mauna Kea Observatory and/or the University of Hawaii Hilo should be encouraged to serve as the private sector sponsors. Without such assistance, the sisterhood will not be productive as envisioned. HAWAI-CHO, JAPAN Established in October 1996, via Resolution No. 400-96. Preliminary discussions began in August 1996, with two visiting emissaries requesting a sister-city relationship. With the commitment of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCC&I), the application proceeded with a visitation on October 11-14, 1996, of 11 citizens from Hawai-Cho, including the chairman and members of the Hawai-Cho Town Assembly. This was followed on November 11-17 1996, with a visit from 14 government and business leaders, led by Mayor Masanao Inoue. In this particular relationship, besides the mandated council resolution, we have a signed, joint agreement between Mayors Inoue and Yamashiro, outlining the basic covenants of this relationship (both in Japanese and in English). Also, and most importantly, we have a signed service agreement with the JCC&I stating their commitment to assist the County in making this sisterhood a meaningful and successful one. In July, 1997, at their invitation, a delegation from Hawaii, including Councilmember Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd, Rudy Legaspi, and the Hula Halau Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung Page 4 August 10, 2000 Kou Lima Nani 'E (12 members), visited Hawai-cho. The Halau's trip was paid for by Hawai-cho. For the period of August 20-25, 1998, 10 primary grade students and four adult educators visited the Big Island, including a visit to the Waiakea Elementary School. All students were homestayed. On June 23-27, 1999, 13 governmental and business operators visited Hilo. In July, 1999, Barry Mizuno and Michael Miyahira of the JCC&I paid a courtesy visit to Hawai-cho. In October 1999, after attending a Japan-Hawaii Tourist Summit, Mayor Yamashiro paid a short courtesy call to Mayor Inoue. For the period July 23-26, 2000, Mayor Yamashiro and Rudy Legaspi, along with the Waiakea Intermediate School Ukulele Band, participated in their annual Hawai-cho Matsuri, along with the Ray Fonseca Halau. The WIS Ukulele Band trip was financed through a fundraising concert and private sector donations. RECOMMENDATION: Must be maintained. This is the first of the mandated private sector involvement requiring a written agreement between the County and the JCC&I, which has proven successful because of their active participation and the ethnic linkage. IKAHO-MACHI, JAPAN Established in January 22, 1997, via Resolution 16-97. Ikaho-Machi governmental and private sector officials have been visiting Hilo since 1987, and have had ties with the Hawaii Island Japanese Community Association (HIJCA). They have established an annual homestay and sister-school program with Waiakea Intermediate School for the past twelve years. On November 20-22, 1996, 14 governmental and private sector officials visited Hilo to formally request the establishment of a sister-city relationship. On January 19-23, 1997, Mayor Minoru Ishizaka and a delegation of five others visited Hilo to attend the HIJCA annual meeting and signed the necessary agreements formalizing the sister-city relationship. HIJCA also became the second organization to sign an agreement to be the official private sector sponsor. For the period August 20-25, 1998, 10 students and three educators visited the Big Island and homestayed with HIJCA families. Since the inception of the sister-city program in 1997, Ikaho-Machi has invited and paid all expenses for the winner of our annual Merrie Monarch Festival to Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung Page 5 August 10, 2000 perform at their festival. For the 2000 festival, the Leina'ala Mattos Hula Halau will be performing August 8-15, 2000. In the summer of 1998, the WIS Ukulele Band also was part of the festivities. Ikaho paid half of their expenses. Mayor Yamashiro also attended that event. For the period August 10-15, a delegation from the Big Island, including Rudy Legaspi, Yukio Takeya, of the HIJCA, Lee Harlon and Ken Fujiyama, owners of the Volcano House/Nani Mau Gardens, and the Waiakea Intermediate School Ukulele Band will also participate in the festival. For the period of August 17-22, 2000, 10 students and three educators will be visiting the Big Island and will be "homestaying" with families of the WIS Ukulele Band. RECOMMENDATION: Must be maintained. This is a mandated private sector involvement requiring a written agreement between the County and the HIJCA, which has proven successful because of their active participation and the ethnic linkage. TASMANIA -AUSTRALIA Established on January 22, 1997, via Resolution 27-97. It was recommended by Councilmember John Ray at the behalf of Gene Eger. It was approved with the "expectation" that the Rotary Club of North Hawaii would sign on as the private sector sponsor upon receiving approval from Tony Rundle, MAA, Premier of Tasmania. Both efforts were not pursued. As such, the sister-city relationship remains dormant. RECOMMENDATION: Contact with G. Eger will be made. Should progress not be made by the end of the year 2000, the relationship should be terminated. SUMOTO CITY - JAPAN County of Hawaii Resolution 282-00, was approved on August 25, 2000, by the Hawaii County Council. The agreements (English version) between Mayors Nakagawa and Yamashiro were signed in Sumoto City, Japan on July 21, 2000. Sumoto's legislative body, which will next meet in September 2000, will also formalize the sisterhood. Mayor Nakagawa will be in Hilo soon thereafter to sign with Mayor Yamashiro the Japanese version of the agreement. Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung Page 6 August 10, 2000 At the same time, an agreement between the private sector sponsor, the Hawaii Florists and Shippers, Raymond Suefuji, President, also signed on as the official private sector sponsor. For the period July 19-23, 2000, Mayor Yamashiro, Rudy Legaspi, Raymond Suefuji and a 12 members contingent from the Waiakea Intermediate School Ukulele Band performed at their Japan Flora 2000 and their Hawaiian Matsuri. The band's trips was financed by a fundraising concert and private section donations. On August 18-22, 1999, we received 20 students and nine adults from the Sumoto International Association (SIA), to pursue the establishment of a sister- city relationship. All of the students were homestayed with HIJCA and JCC&I families. For the period of August 17-20, 2000, 10 students and eight SIA members will be visiting the Big Island. The students will be homestayed with WIS Ukulele Band families. We believe that we have enhanced the success of the sister-city programs with the adoption of Ordinance 93-102. The mandate of requiring outside private sector sponsors, preferably with ethnic ties (not mandatory), is vital for the maintenance of a successful relationship. It is noted that to date, our County has had the better of it, as more incoming visits and free trips have been realized. Further note that it is normal for these visitors to include touring the entire island with priorities for star gazing on Mauna Kea, touring the Volcano National Park, visiting Kona and other areas of interest. We are satisfied that the groundwork for the permanent and viable sister-city programs are in place, and we hope that the next administration, the Hawaii County Council and the private sector sponsors will put the required effort necessary to keep these relationships intact and in good standing. Finally, for budgetary concerns, it is suggested that a schedule of future outgoing visits be projected by both the Council and Administration at least for the next four years, whereby appropriate funding can be factored in.