HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0383.001 2012-2014 qtr^os..
..'• Walter K.M.Lau
�i Managing Director•
William P.Kenoi •
•: "1 :Z':•
Mayor
Randall M.Kurohara
•�jt °'j�r�` Deputy Managing Director
• E Of M� -
CIniuig �f�
Mffirt of fire Agar
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,Hawaii 96740
(808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440
C-)
July 31, 2014
I
The Honorable J Yoshimoto _
and Members of the County Council N
County of Hawai'i w _
-
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chair Yoshimoto 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.
OSHIMA ISLAND, JAPAN
Resolution No. 146-62.
October 16, 2013 —Typhoon Wipha ravaged Oshima Island. Flooding and mudslides
destroyed nearly 300 homes. 20,000 people were ordered to evacuate and over 30
deaths were reported. The County of Hawai'i joined the Japanese Chamber of
Commerce & Industry of Hawaii, the Japanese Community Association and the Kona
Japanese Civic Association in the Aloha Oshima relief drive. Donations were collected
through December 2013.
January, 2014 — Members of participating relief drive associations met with Mayor Kenoi
to present the Aloha Oshima relief drive check in the amount of$20,000. This will be
presented in person to the Mayor of Oshima sometime in the Fall of 2014.
Comm. N 0 3• I
Ref.To: ` I
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. 4
Ref. Date, g
Chair Yoshimoto and Council Members
Page 2
July 31, 2014
NAGO CITY, OKINAWA, JAPAN
Resolution No. 154, dated April 9, 1986. The supporting organization is Hui Okinawa.
August, 2013 — 12 intermediate school students and two chaperones, visiting Hilo on a
student exchange came to the Mayor's Office for a courtesy call and omiyage exchange
with the Mayor.
LA SERENA, CHILE
Resolution No. 324-94, dated November 30, 1994.
January, 2014 — Congratulatory letter was sent to newly elected Mayor Roberto Jacob
from Mayor Kenoi.
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).
August, 2013 —14 students, and four adults —the Superintendent of Education, two
teachers and the coordinator of International Relations for Yurihama Town were in Hilo
for six days. They stayed with host families of students from the Hilo Intermediate
School Builders Club. The group participated in many school activities at Hilo
Intermediate School and visited many local sights and visitor attractions.
SHIBUKAWA CITY, JAPAN (Formerly lkaho-Machi
Resolution No. 16-97, dated January 27, 1997. The supporting organization is the
Japanese Community Association of Hawai'i (JCAH).
July 29 —August 4, 2013 — Managing Director Wally Lau and Department of Research
and Development Director Laverne Omori were part of a group to visit Shibukawa to
attend the Hawaiian Festival.
April 2014 — Delegation of four (Mr. Sanuemon Chigira, past president of Ikaho Hot
Springs Tourism Association and owner of the Chigira Jinsentel Hotel, Mr. Osamu
Yamamoto, head of Ikaho Hawaiians Music Group, Mr. and Mrs. Akira lijima, former
Planning Chief of Ikaho Town Office) visited Hilo to participate in the Merrie Monarch
Festival. The County hosted a reception for the delegates that included members of the
Japanese Community Association and other business leaders.
County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Chair Yoshimoto and Council Members
Page 3
July 31, 2014
SUMOTO CITY, JAPAN
Resolution No. 282-00, dated August 9, 2000. The supporting organization is the
Kiwanis Club of East Hawai'i.
July, 2013 — 12 high school students and eight adults — members of the Sumoto
Government and Sumoto International Association visited on a student exchange. They
stayed with host families of students from the Hilo High School Key Club. The group
participated in student activities at Hilo High School and visited various sites around
Hilo, and Volcanoes National Park.
KUMEJIMA, OKINAWA, JAPAN
Resolution No. 42-11, dated May 17, 2011. The supporting organization is the Friends
of NELHA.
September, 2013 — Hawaii-Okinawa Clean Energy Cooperation, Ocean Energy
Workshop was held in Kona. This meeting continued the in-depth discussions from the
previous year's energy workshop on Kumejima Island. Representatives from Kumejima
were on Hawai'i Island to attend this workshop.
May 12, 2014 — Mayor Haruo Ota and his cabinet were sworn into office, replacing
outgoing Mayor Choko Taira.
LA REUNION
Resolution 197-12, dated January 4, 2012. The supporting entity is goodwill
ambassadors and liaisons, Alain and Marie Gerente.
May 6, 2014 - Liaisons Alain and Marie Gerente met with Deputy Managing Director
Randy Kurohara and me to extend an official invitation from President Didier Robert to
Mayor Billy Kenoi to visit La Reunion this year. The official visit, which will be paid for
by La Reunion, has been tentatively set for late November-early December 2014.
County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Chair Yoshimoto and Council Members
Page 4
July 31, 2014
ORMOC, PHILIPPINES
Resolution No. 77-11, dated June 15, 2011. The supporting organization is the
Congress of Visayan Organizations — Kona Visayan Club and Hilo Visayan Club
(COVO).
November, 2013 —Typhoon Haiyan hit Ormoc City, leaving a trail of destruction. The
roofs of almost all of the buildings were blown away leaving many homeless. The
County of Hawai'i joined the Kona and Hilo Visayan Clubs in relief efforts. Over
$40,000 was raised and will be used to sponsor a housing project in Ormoc City.
GOKSEONG COUNTY, SOUTH KOREA
Resolution No. 138-11, dated September 21, 2011. The supporting organizations are
Natural Farming, LLC, Kohala Intergenerational Center, Hawai'i FFA Foundation,
University of Nations, Cho Global Natural Farming-Hawai'i, Big Island Korean Club and
Hilo Korean Church.
No activity.
Res•e` , submitted,
ti/
Charmaine '.higemura
Executive Assistant
Sister City Protocol Officer
County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.