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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1059.002 2014-2016 ca-- Gam. - ""(2-+ glak, :31 October 5, 2016 ` Resolution 651-16 �= Testimony before the Hawaii County Council N. Subject: Grant to the Hilo High School Foundation to be used for the Hilo High School Key Club Student Educational Exchange Program Purpose: To help defray non-travel expenses related to the October 2016 visit to the County of Hawaii's Sister City of Sumoto City, Japan Chair Kanuha, Vice Chair Pointdexter, Council Member Onishi and other members of the Hawaii County Council. Good Morning and Aloha. My name is Tommy Goya. I am a 38-year member of the Kiwanis Club of East Hawaii and 25-year advisor for the Hilo High School Key Club. I am presenting background information to support Resolution 651-16,Reference Communication 1059,regarding an appropriation of$865 out and from a designated fund account to the Hilo High School Foundation. The funds will be used to help defray non-travel expenses related to the Hilo High School Key Club's visit to the Hawaii County's Sister City, Sumoto, Japan. Sumoto City with a population of 50,000 is the largest city on Awaji Island,Hyogo Prefecture. The two nearest large cities are Kobe and Osaka. The economy of the Island is primarily agriculture, fishing and tourism. The Island has many sandy beaches, a country setting,temples and shrines, flower gardens, and hot springs resorts. Students from Sumoto have visited Hilo for many years and have enjoyed their home- stay with local families, attended our schools and were amazed with our beautiful island home and its rich mix of cultures. Students from Hilo High School Key Club have visited Sumoto and other areas of Japan in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2014. The October 5 - 14, 2016 trip will include student homestay for four days in Sumoto on Awaji Island, and visits to historic Shikoku Island,the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum,Hemiji Castle, Kyoto and Osaka. For many months,the 16 Hilo High School Key Club members under the supervision of the East Hawaii Kiwanis Club and school advisor, Charlene Masuhara,have been busy fundraising and preparing for this year's October trip. Many hours have been spent learning about Sumoto and the culture of the Japanese people as well as brushing up on their own family backgrounds and the Hawaiian culture. As ambassadors from Hawaii, they all learn to sing Hawaiian songs and dance the hula,which will be taught to the • Sumoto High School students. acerIM. No. (1)6 2 Ref. To:j tD U- Ref. Date OCT 0 5 ?Q16 1 Our students benefit by being exposed to international travel,learn about different cultures, and develop self-confidence. While traveling abroad,they know that they represent their families,their school,their community, our state and our nation. Unlike Hawaii,the Sumoto Department of Education comes under the jurisdiction of the local Sumoto City government. English is taught as a second language in their middle schools. The Sumoto Government fully supports the Student Educational Exchange Program through its Sister City relationship with Hawaii County. In 2000,then Mayors Steven Yamashiro of Hawaii County and Keiichi Nakagawa of Sumoto City established the Sister City relationship. Mayors Billy Kenoi of Hawaii County and Michihiro Takeuchi of Sumoto City renewed and reaffirmed the general agreement in 2010. Included in the ceremony was the signing of an updated agreement between the County of Hawaii and the Kiwanis Club of East Hawaii,the local host organization as affirmed by then Mayor Harry Kim in 2004. The Floral Shippers of Hawaii served as the local host organization from 2000-2004. In August 2015, a Tree Planting Ceremony at Liliuokalani Gardens commemorated the fifteenth year anniversary of the original Sister City Agreement. Sumoto City Mayor Michihiro Takeuchi was very impressed with the warm aloha during his visits to Hilo in 2010 and 2015 and vowed to be back in 2020. Mayor Takeuchi and their Council members have expressed a strong interest in furthering the Sister City relationship with Hawaii County,be it economic, cultural or educational. Sumoto International Association(their Chamber of Commerce) acts as their host organization. Their memberships represent a cross section of their Island's business community. They too have visited Hilo many times and have accompanied their students on many of the Hilo activities. And through these visits, many bonds of friendship have been established. I am sorry that I am unable to be present at today's Council meeting to answer any questions that you may have regarding one of the County of Hawaii's six Sister Cities in Japan. Coincidentally at the time of your meeting, we will already be on our way to Japan with our 16 students from the Hilo High School Key Club. We appreciate your continued support for these Student Educational Exchange Programs. Mahalo for this opportunity to provide you with this background information. , Aj% 2