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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0016.000 2016-2018 •.OJNtY'OP M,' ••L. Randall M.Kurohara •gg \1614;, Managing Director • William P.Kenoi 11r� i ��• Mayor '�!! • .__�:,� Robert Command •i'�' +•:�•�`�. Deputy Managing Director , �TE•oi'M�� . C ouut of c- @ffirr of flir Alvin C.. 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 C M November 30, 2016 y The Honorable Dru Kanuha and Members of the County Council County of Hawai'i Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Chair Kanuha and Council Members: 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. Since this administration's final day in office is December 5, 2016, I am submitting the following report covering sister city activities from July through November 2016. OSHIMA ISLAND, JAPAN Resolution No. 146-62. August 2016 — Mr. Ken Kimura, paid a courtesy visit to the Mayor's Office on behalf of Ohshima Island. Mr. Kimura would be willing to act as the sister-city liaison for future activity with Ohshima Island. October 2016 — Through an email, Mr. Ken Kimura expressed an interest by the new administration to continue this sister city relationship. New Mayor is Mayor Toshihiro Mistuji and Vice Mayor Takehiro Kitta. Managing Director Randy Kurohara informed Mr. Kimura that there will be a new administration in December 2016. Comm.No. 16 Ref.To: C gt O C_ Ref.Date Nov.y County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. The Honorable Dru Kanuha Page 2 November 30, 2016 NAGO CITY, OKINAWA, JAPAN Resolution No. 154, dated April 9, 1986. The supporting organization is Hui Okinawa. August 2016 —A delegation from Nago City visited Hawai'i Island in commemoration of our 30th year anniversary, and also to participate in the Hui Okinawa Haari Boat Races. The county hosted a commemorative dinner attended by the visiting delegation, members of Hui Okinawa, former members of Hui Okinawa, former Hawai'i County Council members and staff from the Mayor's Office. September 2016 —A Hawai'i Island delegation that included representatives from Hawai'i County— Managing Director Randy Kurohara, Executive Assistant Karen Teshima, Research and Development Deputy Director Donn Mende and Council Chairman Dru Kanuha visited Nago City as one of the three destinations of their Japan mission that included 1) a visit to Tokyo to promote the new direct flight from Haneda to Kona by Hawaiian Air, and 2) a visit to Kumejima to attend the 7th Annual Ocean Energy Symposium and Workshop. The visit to Nago City was to commemorate the 30-year sister city relationship between Hawai'i County and Nago City. The group, that also included BIVB Executive Director Ross Birch, Past President of JCCIH Tommy Goya, and Director of Friends of NELHA Candee Elsworth also met with the Mayor and Council Chair of Nago City, other governmental officials, tourism officials and the President of Meio University. LA SERENA, CHILE Resolution No. 324-94, dated November 30, 1994. No activity. 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, 2016 —A group of 14 students and five adult chaperones from four different Junior High Schools in Yurihama visited Hilo. They home-stayed with Hilo families and participated in school activities with students from Hilo Intermediate. They also visited Volcanoes National Park. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. The Honorable Dru Kanuha Page 3 November 30, 2016 October, 2016 — Yurihama hosted a delegation from Hawai'i Island — Deputy Managing Director Bobby Command, Council Chair Dru Kanuha and Incoming President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce Steve Ueda. The visit was a renewal of the relationship that has been in place for the past 25 years. They also explored ways to expand this relationship from cultural and friendship to one that would be of economic benefit to both. The delegation met with the Mayor and Council Chair of Yurihama as well as various business leaders. 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). July, 2016 — Representatives from the Japanese Community Association presented a Mayor's Message to Mayor Sadaji Akutsu during the 20th anniversary of the Annual Ikaho Hawaiian Festival July 26-29. SUMOTO CITY, JAPAN Resolution No. 282-00, dated August 9, 2000. The supporting organization is the Kiwanis Club of East Hawai'i. October 2016 — A group of 16 high school students, Key Club Advisors Tommy Goya Charlene Masuhara, Amy Aoyagi and Mari Nakamoto visited Sumoto City on a student exchange. Also included in this group were members of the Kiwanis Club of East Hawai'i and Executive Assistant Charmaine Shigemura. The students stayed with local families and participated in school activities at Sumoto High School. The adults met with the Mayor and Council Chair of Sumoto City and other government officials, as well as members of Sumoto International Association to reaffirm the sister city relationship over the past 16 years. KUMEJIMA, OKINAWA, JAPAN Resolution No. 42-11, dated May 17, 2011. The supporting organization is the Friends of NELHA. September 2016 —A Hawai'i Island delegation that included representatives from Hawai'i County— Managing Director Randy Kurohara, Executive Assistant Karen Teshima, Research and Development Deputy Director Donn Mende and Council Chairman Dru Kanuha visited Kumejima as one of the three destinations of their County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. The Honorable Dru Kanuha Page 4 November 30, 2016 Japan mission that included 1) a visit to Tokyo to promote the new direct flight from Haneda to Kona by Hawaiian Air, and 2) a visit to Nago City to commemorate the 30-year sister city relationship between Hawai'i County and Nago City. The group visited Kumejima to attend the Ocean Energy Symposium and Workshop, and to commemorate the 5-year sister city relationship. The group, also included BIVB Executive Director Ross Birch, Past President of JCCIH Tommy Goya, and Director of Friends of NELHA Candee Elsworth. LA REUNION Resolution 197-12, dated January 4, 2012. The supporting entity is goodwill ambassadors and liaisons, Alain and Marie Gerente. No activity. 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). October 2016 — A congratulatory letter was sent by Mayor Kenoi to the new Mayor of Ormoc, Mayor Richard Gomez. November 2016 —The new Mayor has requested a formal invitation to attend inauguration ceremonies on December 5, 2016. GOKSEONG COUNTY, SOUTH KOREA No activity. The economic, cultural and educational exchange that sister city relationships provide are valuable to the people of our island and our sister cities as well. Mahalo for your continued support and involvement over the past eight years. I hope that future Hawai'i County executive and legislative branches will continue to support these relationships. R- p- • ' submitted, /air Charmain !Shigemura Executive Assistant to the Mayor Sister City Protocol Officer 2008 - 2016 County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.