HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0056.001 2002-2004 ~tv w
Ha Kim ~'~y ~~yq; Dixie Kaetsu
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Mayor Managing Director
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A~ Peter. L. Hendricks
COiJNTY OF HAV~DIN 13 P(~ 9 ~~ry Managing ~ireclor
25 Aupuni Stree[, Room 215 Hilo, Hawaii 96720-0252 (808) 961-821 l • Fax (808) 961-6»~
KONA: 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Sui[e 103 • Kailua-Kona, ~~~~'I Q6740 , „
(808)329-5226 • Fax (808)326-5663 f;~UNT~ i,.. I, ~~~,"lii
January 13, 2004
The Honorable Chairman James Y. Arakaki
and Members of the County Council
County of Hawaii
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chairman Arakaki and Council Members:
Pursuant to Hawaii County Code, Section 2-166, the following interim report is
submitted on the status of our sister city programs.
As you know, Article 31 (Sister City Relationships) of the Hawaii County Code was
amended by Ordinance 3-117, effective August 14, 2003. The amendments eliminated
inconsistencies in the previous code provisions, and moved the reporting requirement
for the protocol officer from December 31 to July 31 of each year. In order to cover the
transition from the old ordinance to the new, I thought it appropriate to submit this
interim report, and will follow with a final report by July 31, 2004.
The last report, dated December 18, 2002, covered calendar year 2002. Since that
time, sister city activities have centered around four jurisdictions: Hawai-cho, Sumoto,
Ikaho and La Serena.
In May, 2003, two council members, Councilmen Chung and Safarik, visited Ikaho and
met with Mayor Shunji Sekiguchi, former Mayor Minoru Ishizaka, and Council Chair Koji
Matsumoto.
Then, in July, Mayor Kim visited Hawai-cho. He also went to South Korea, where he
met with officials from a potential new sister city, Anseong, South Korea. No further
action has been taken with respect to that possible new relationship.
In August 2003, Hawaii County was visited by three delegations, the first by Sumoto
(August 7-10), then Hawai-cho (August 14-21 and finally by Ikaho (August 20-24).
We were again visited by Sumoto in November, 2003, when the Sumoto International
Association informed us that it was using the occasion of its 10th anniversary to hold a
three day expo which would highlight its relationship with Hawaii County. No. SV.~
Ref. To: IJ fL,C.
Rif. Date
ylA~-~
The Honorable Chairman James Y. Arakaki
and Members of the County Council
Page 2
January 13, 2004
The delegates from Sumoto International Association used their time in Hawaii to
purchase considerable product (flowers, macadamia nuts, coffee, t-shirts, cookies,
candies, juices) for sale at the 10th anniversary event, and also picked up a good deal of
material from the Big Island Visitors Bureau for distribution.
To support Sumoto's efforts, Hawaii County sent two delegates to the celebration, Janet
Snyder from the Mayor's Office and Margarita Hopkins from Research and
Development. Also attending from Hawaii County were former Mayor and Mrs. Stephen
Yamashiro, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Suefuji from the Hawaii Florist and Shippers
Association and Amy Aoyagi from Kobayashi Travel. By all accounts, the celebration
was a huge success.
Around the time of the Sumoto visit in November, Hawaii County was informed that the
Hawaii Florist and Shippers Association could no longer function as the local "sponsor"
of the Sumoto sister city relationship. As a result, the East Hawaii Kiwanis Club was
approached and asked to be the new local partner, and the club verbally agreed. This
information was conveyed to the Mayor of Sumoto as well as the Sumoto International
Association, and the transition does not appear to have raised any significant issues. A
formal, written agreement with the East Hawaii Kiwanis Club has not yet been finalized.
In December 2003, another delegation from Hawai-cho visited the Big Island. This
group consisted of adults only, in contrast to the summer visits which were primarily by
school children and their escorts.
The other significant sister city activity during 2003 was a teacher exchange between
Hawaii County and La Serena, Chile. The "Star Teacher Exchange Program" was
conceived by Gemini Observatory, which sponsored the travel of three Hawaii County
teachers to Chile in March 2003, with three Chilean teachers visiting Hawaii in October
2003. During the visits, video conferencing technology was used by the teachers to
present lessons to their students back home, with the goal of inspiring an interest in
astronomy in particular and science in general. The exchanges were extremely well
received, and Gemini has indicated an interest in repeating the program in calendar
year 2005.
Pursuant to Council members' questions at the last sister city review, and in an effort to
re-energize some of the less active sister city relationships (or remove them from the
books), letters were sent in December to the various jurisdictions with which we have
sister-city status. With respect to the more active relationships, I have asked for current
information on contacts and office holders.
The Honorable Chairman James Y. Arakaki
and Members of the County Council
Page 3
January 13, 2004
With respect to those relationships that have been inactive, I have asked if there is any
interest in continuing the official sister city designation. I will report back the results of
these communications when responses are received. The letters and/or a-mails went
to:
1. Hawai-Cho, Japan 2. Hualien, Taiwan
3. Ikaho Machi, Japan 4. La Serena, Chile
5. Legazpi City, Philippines 6. Nago City, Okinawa
7. Oshima Island, Japan 8. Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal
9. Sumoto City, Japan 10. Tasmania, Australia
In the case of Sao Miguel, for which there has been no recorded activity since 1992, a
letter was also sent to the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, as the
"local business and cultural group", that would have the greatest interest, pursuant to
Section 2-166 of the Hawaii County Code.
In my prior reports to the Council, I neglected mention of a sister-city visit to Nago City,
Okinawa, Japan in August, 2001. This was a major undertaking with private fundraising
to send 30 people to Okinawa. To correct this oversight, I attach a copy of the
August 16, 2001 travel report for your records.
Finally, it is worth noting that Sister City International now has a state coordinator in
Hawaii. Although neither Hawaii County nor any other jurisdiction in Hawaii (so far as I
know) is a member of SCI, I was contacted by Mr. Lowell Strombeck who is the Sister
City International volunteer state coordinator. Mr. Strombeck has lived on Kauai for the
past five years, and previously was active in sister city programs in San Diego,
California. Mr. Strombeck came to the Big Island to inform me of his activities, and I
made him aware of our County activities as well as referring him to individuals at the
State Department of Business and Economic Development who were instrumental in
the Sister City Summit that took place in 2002.
Respectfully submitted,
l' ~
Andrew Levin
Protocol Officer
Attachment
August 16, 2001
MEMORANDUM
To: James Y. Arakaki, Chair
Hawaii County Council ' )
From: Pua Bumatay, Aide to ~ )I4,44s~ t"JU,fYl~4
Council Member Leningrad Elarionoff
Subject: Travel Report on Nago City, Okinawa (Sister City)
This travel report is submitted pursuant to section 2-100, Hawaii County Code for the following
members of the Hawaii County Council and staff (along with the Paddlers of LakaJ who were
invited to Nago City, Okinawa, Japan, our sister city to participate in the 2001 Annual Haari
Dragon Boat Race on August 2-7, 2001, representing the island and State of Hawaii.
James Y. Arakaki, Council Chair
Pua Bumatay, Council Aide Ili
The trip consisted of international and cultural exchanges with the people of Okinawa through
dinner receptions, meetings, visits with high school students and participation in the boat races.
Since 1986, the County of Hawaii has been affiliated with the city of Nago as a sister city. This
program has benefited the people of Hilo as well as Nago City through the exchange of cultural
exhibits, educational programs and other matters of common interest. We felt that it would be a
true gesture of respect and gratitude on the part of the people of Hawaii for us to accept their
invitation and travel to their community to share a bit of our culture and aloha with them.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3
Arrived in Naha, Okinawa
? Greeted by:
¦ Takako Sakihama, International Exchange Coordinator for Nago City
• Mr. Kakihana, Director of Okinawa International House & Chairman of Friendship
Committee
• Harumi, International Exchange for Nago City (Interpreter)
• Koichiro Arakaki, International Exchange for Nago City (Interpreter)
Co:nrn. No.~
Page 2
August 16, 2001
James Y. Arakaki, Council Chair
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 (Site Visits)
? Nago City Castle Ruins (NahiJirr Castle)
? Orion Breweries, Ltd
Met with Meishin Ukishima, Chairman of Executive Committee. Viewed how Orion Beer,
Okinawa's No. 1 selling beer, is canned and brewed.
Along with the agricultural industry and manufacturing industry, Nago City has been
developing new industrial trends that make the most of regional resources like Orion
Breweries who use only local spring water to make their beer.
? Nago High School
Met with Nago High School students (Handba/1 Team) observed clubs and school facilities.
Okinawa's belief is that educating the young people and giving them hopes will help them
realize the visions of tomorrow. In addition to promoting human resources, educators help
students to understand internationalism and high technology information.
? Neo Park
Animal and plant theme park is home to 226 rare species of animal and 1,284 rare species
of plants from Africa, Oceania South America and South East Asia.
? Sugar Cane & Rice Patty Fields
Drove through sugar cane fields and walked through rice patty fields. Nago City takes
advantages of its subtropical weather, with its abundant harvest of sugarcane, pineapples,
vegetables, and various subtropical fruits. Nago's agricultural industry has become the
second most valuable industry in the prefecture.
? Nago Fishing Port
Site of the boat races. Nago's fishing industry has undergone several changes in recent years.
Transition from a fishing city to an aquacultural city, "Payao" fish trapping techniques as
well, Nago City has successfully met the increasing demands offish commodities.
? Attended Welcome Reception
Hosted by Nago City and held at Okinawa International House, hosted by Nago City.
Met and exchanged gifts:
The Honorable Mayor Tateo Kishimoto, Nago City
Meishin Ukishima, Chairman of Executive Committee
Takashi Yabu, President of Kaikon Inc.
Page 3
August l6, 2001
James Y. Arakaki, Council Chair
Takako Sakihama, Okinawa Contact Person
Yoshikazu Shimabutkuro, Chairman, Nago City Assembly
Toshio Inamine, Nago City Managing Director
Igei Miyagi, Deputy Mayor of Nago City
Ikuo Kakihana, host and Chairman of Nago International Friendship Committee
? Participated in dancing the Kachaashi (Okinawan Dance). Traditional folk art and
culture, handed down by each generation, still live within the people ofNago City
through dance.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 (Race Day)
? Hawai`i team represents County and State at race, boys team places 19a' out of 126 teams and
girls place l0`" out of 32 teams.
? After race, met with local high school students along with The Honorable Mayor Tateo
Kishimoto at Nago Beach for Beach Party. Participated in activities such as volleyball,
breaking of watermelon (like hitting the pi8ata) hula dancing, and kachaashi, etc.
MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2001 (Site Visit /Dinner Reception)
? Taured Shurijo Castle
Shurijo Castle is a symbol of the unique history and culture of Okinawa. Shurijo Castle was
both the royal residence for the king and his family and the administrative center of the Shuri
Royal Government. It also served as a religious center to administer the rituals performed by
the priestesses spread throughout the Kingdom. Shurijo was also the focus of cultural and
artistic activities, with many musicians, dancers, artisans and craftsmen active in the castle
azea.
? Jimmy's Restaurant
Dinner Reception with Jimmy Inamine, Chairman of Jimmy's (chain of stores).
TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2001
? Toured Nago City Assembly
Page 4
August 16, 2001
James Y. Arakaki, Council Chair
Meeting with Mayor Tateo Kishimoto, Chairman of Nago City Assembly & Yoshikazu
Shimabukuro and host.
Nago City is the major metropolis of Yanbaru, which is located in the northern region of
Okinawa Island. Nago City is host to the island's international tourism and resorts. It is a place
of rich culture and nature. Nago is currently developing a more international perspective and is
seeking to gain information on the social implications of change, while taking an active role in
local administration, education, and economics.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST g, 2001 (Mr. Arakakij
? 11:30 ain -12:00 p.+rr.
Meeting in Naha with Mayor Onaga (City Office)
? 12:30p.m.
Meeting with Itsuko Wakugami & Miyoko Toma of Naha Tax Office who came to visit
Hilo's Tax office
? 2:00 p.m.
Meeting with Noriaka Kakaza, Director of Finance, Okinawa Prefecture
? 6:00 p.m.
Meeting with Yoshikazu Kokuba Chairman of Chief Executives Association of Okinawa.
Nago City has many diverse cultural sites and assets developed by their forefathers. Both
tangible and intangible, Okinawa protects their traditional cultural and azcheological assets, as
well as local plants and animals in hopes to leave this inheritance with their children.
JAMES Y. ARAKAKI `o~NtY of New, AARON S.Y. CHUNG
Chairman & PresidmgOjjmer ~yli;~~; BOBBY JEAN LE[THEAD-TODL
LENINGRAD ELARIONOFF
,I. CURTIS TYLER, III FRED C. HOLSCHUH, M.D.
I%ice Chmrmm~ ~i,~r::;-.,~q^. BOB JACOBSON
i °F JOSEPH REYNOLDS
GARY SAFARIK
COUNTY COUNCIL
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County of Hawaii W
Hawai Counry Buidding ~ C
15 Aupuni Street C. ~ r
Hilo, Hawai "i 96710 z C- N
Phone: 96/-8225 ! T
jacsimflie: 967-8972
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TRAVEL REPORT ~ ^Tj ~
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Japan Trip -L
May 24, 2003 -June I, 2003
? Met with Mr. Akira Nomura (International Sales Manager) and Mr. Shinichi Osada (General
Manager) of Hitachi Metals Gasification Melting System and toured the Plasma Direct
Melting System plant.
? Met with Mr. Osamu Suzuki of Nippon Steel Corporation
RE: Kazusa Clean System (Solid Waste Plant)
? Met with Mr. Kiyoshi Mokumoto of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau,based in
Japan. "toured Tsukiji Fish Market, Produce Auction, and Flower Auction.
? Met with Mr. Katsumi Chiyo and Takahisa Kanaramoto of Japan Airlines (JAL)
Mr. Nobuo Isomura-Biggest Floral Auction
Mr. Kohei Terashita-Sawachi, Co., Ltd. '
RE: Establishing direct contact between Hawaii growers and ,lapan's Floral and Fauna
auction.
? Visited Ikaho (Sister City)
Met with Mayor Shunji Sekiguchi, Former Mayor Ishizake and Council Chairman Koji
Matsumoto.
Respectfully Suh iit ed,
~ ~ o
Cary mil ll. Ch~ a Aaron S l'. Chung. Chai
Cummittee on Parks and Environmental Management Committee on Finance
Sec Attarhmcnt