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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0274.000 2010-2012 . O J�<Y of 1 • CP.' , William T. Takaba \il ke � Managing Director William P. Kenoi •R!\ `t; %�'�'• Mayor '~'Y Walter K.M. Lau Pe • � "0�,' Deputy Managing Director intt Of 'Haitiann ffirr of * Atavrur 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961 -8211 • Fax (808) 961 -6553 KONA: 74 -5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C • Kailua -Kona, Hawai`i 96740 (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323 -4440 July 11, 2011 O" The Honorable Dominic Yagong and Members of the County Council County of Hawai'i k Y Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Chair Yagong and Council Members: Pursuant to Hawai'i County Code, Section 2 -166, the following report is submitted on the status of Hawai'i County's active sister -city programs. Article 31 of the Hawai'i County Code provides that the County protocol officer shall submit an annual report by July 31 of each year covering the previous year's sister -city activities. YURIHAMA CITY, JAPAN— Formerly Hawaii -Cho Resolution No. 400 -96, dated October 16, 1996. The supporting organization is the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawai'i, (JCCIH). July, 2010 — Amy Aoyagi, along with Dr. and Mrs. Tangaro and students from Hawai'i Community College went to Yurihama City's Hawaiian Festival. They delivered gifts to Mayor Miyawaki and the Governor of Tottori Prefecture from Mayor Kenoi, along with a congratulatory letter from Mayor Kenoi and Hawai'i County for the festival's 10 anniversary booklet. March, 2011 — Mayor Kenoi sent a letter to Mayor Masamichi Miyawake of Yurihama expressing condolences to the people who lost loved ones or were affected by the tsunami /earthquake on March 11. Comm. No. 27 County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Ref. To: C Ref. Date UL 11 7n>> Sister City Annual Report July 11,2011 Page 2 SHIBUKAWA CITY, JAPAN (Formerly Ikaho -Machi Resolution No. 16 -97, dated January 27, 1997. The supporting organization is the Japanese Community Association of Hawai'i (JCA). August, 2010 — Ms. Amy Aoyagi escorted the 2010 Merrie Monarch winning halau to Ikaho. She delivered official greetings and gifts from Mayor Kenoi. August, 2010 — Nine students and two teachers from Shibukawa participated in a student exchange with Waiakea High School students. The Waiakea High School Key Club, the Kiwanis Club and the JCA hosted the students during their six day stay by providing homestay locations, activities and meals. The Mayor's Office provided transportation, secured the waiver for Volcanoes National Park entry fee and paid for a portion of the farewell potluck dinner. January, 2011 — Shibukakwa City Official visitation to Hilo to reaffirm the Sister City Agreement was comprised of a delegation of 12 from Shibukawa and Ikaho, including Mayor Sadaji Akutsu. The Mayor's Office hosted an official signing ceremony dinner that was attended by the visiting dignitaries from Japan; Mayor Kenoi and Sister City Protocol Officer Char Shigemura. Also attending this ceremony dinner were seven members from the Japanese Community Association. March, 2011 - Mayor Kenoi sent a letter to Mayor Sadaji Akutsu of Shibukawa expressing condolences to the people who lost loved ones or were affected by the tsunami /earthquake on March 11. April, 2011 — Mayor Akutsu of Shibukawa sent a letter to Mayor Kenoi thanking him for his letter and informing us that other than blackouts due to the shortage of electricity caused by the nuclear plant damage, Shibukawa was not affected with any lifeline and housing damages, and did not suffer any casualties. SUMOTO CITY, JAPAN Resolution No. 282 -00, dated August 9, 2000. The supporting organization is the Kiwanis Club of East Hawai'i. August 2010 — Mayor Michihiro Takeuchi, Council Chair Yoshikazu Kinoshita, and a delegation of Sumoto International Association members, Sumoto City Office members, family members (total of 19 people), and a group of 14 high school students visited Hilo to commemorate Sumoto - Hilo's 10 Anniversary of their sister -city program. Students stayed with host families from Hilo High School's Key Club. Activities were planned and County of Hawai i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Sister City Annual Report July 11, 2011 Page 3 sponsored by the Key Club and the Kiwanis Club of East Hawai'i. The Mayor's Office provided gifts, transportation, secured the waiver for Volcanoes National Park entry fee and paid for a portion of the farewell potluck dinner. A signing ceremony was held at a luncheon hosted by the Mayor's Office. An Agreement Renewing and Reaffirming the sister city relationship was signed by both Mayor Takeuchi and Mayor Kenoi, as well as a Sister City Service Agreement that was signed by Cecily Nago, President of the Kiwanis Club of East Hawai'i, Charmaine Shigemura, County of Hawai'i Sister City Protocol Officer and Mayor Billy Kenoi. Also present at this luncheon were members from the Sumoto City Council and International Association, members from the Kiwanis Club of East Hawai'i, and members from the County of Hawai'i. March, 2011 — Mayor Kenoi sent a letter to Mayor Ichihiro Takeuchi of Sumoto expressing condolences to the people who lost loved ones or were affected by the tsunami /earthquake on March 11. LA SERENA, CHILE Resolution No. 324 -94, dated November 30, 1994. August, 2010 — Mayor Kenoi sent a proclamation to Ms. Maraboli -Smith of La Serena in celebration of their 466 Anniversary month. September, 2010 — Ms. Maraboli -Smith sent a photo to Mayor Kenoi of Mayor Raul Saldivar and two council members receiving the proclamation. She informed us that she and her husband, Dr. Malcolm G. Smith would be visiting Hilo in October 2010, and requested a date and time for a courtesy visit. October, 2010 — Dr. Malcolm Smith, Anamaria Maraboli -Smith and former Councilwoman Helene Hale, who was responsible for the establishment of this sister city relationship, met with Mayor Kenoi and Char Shigemura. The Mayor's Office provided Ms. Maraboli -Smith with a letter to Mayor Saldivar requesting that she continue in her role as goodwill ambassador and liaison for La Serena. Hawai'i County is currently in the process of establishing two more sister city relationships: KUMEJIMA, JAPAN May, 2011 — Resolution No. 42 -11 was adopted by the Hawai'i County Council approving the establishment of a sister city relationship between Kumejima, the County County of Hawai' i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Sister City Annual Report July 11,2011 Page 4 of Hawai'i, with the Friends of Nelha as the supporting /sponsor organization. A signing ceremony between the Mayors of both cities, Hawai'i County Sister City Protocol Officer and the Friends of Nelha will take place here on Hawai'i Island before the end of this year pending logistical arrangements with travel dates. ORMOC, PHILIPPINES May, 2011 — Resolution No. 77 -11 was adopted by the Hawai'i County Council approving the establishment of a sister city relationship between Ormoc City, Philippines, the County of Hawai'i, and the Congress of Visayan Organizations, (Kona Visayan Club and Hilo Visayan Club). June, 2011 — Resolution No. 2011 -112 and Resolution 2011 -113 dated June 16, 2011, was approved by Joel S. Duero, Secretary to the Sagguniang Panlungsod ng Ormoc, authorizing the establishment of a sister city relationship between the County of Hawai'i and Ormoc City, Philippines. A signing ceremony between the Mayors of both cities, Hawai'i County Sister City Protocol Officer and the sponsoring organization will take place in Hawai'i before the end of this year pending logistical arrangements with travel dates. Re ctfully submitted, /ri Charmaine : higemura Executive Assistant Sister City Protocol Officer County of Hawai' i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.