A contingent from Kauai led by Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami is headed on a good-will mission to Japan.
A contingent from Kauai led by Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami is headed on a good-will mission to Japan.
“I am honored and excited to embark on my very first official international trip to visit our beloved sister cities of Japan,” Kawakami said. “Kauai mayors before me have established and developed strong partnerships with our Sister City officials, and my goal for this trip is to continue to strengthen those partnerships and affirm our commitment as a new administration. Together with our delegation, we look forward to furthering our long-lasting ties of goodwill, culture, and friendship between Kauai and Japan.”
The mayor will participate in commemoration of Sister City agreements. The Kauai delegation will also exchange information on tourism and economic practices, and establish/strengthen relationships between Kauai and Japan.
Those from the county joining the mayor include Executive Protocol Officer Kaleo Carvalho, tourism specialist Nalani Brun, Council Vice Chair Ross Kagawa, Councilmember KipuKai Kuali‘i. Mark Perriello, Kauai Chamber of Commerce president, is also going.
Their schedule of stops includes:
1) Sept. 26 to 29 – Iwaki
2) Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 – Yamaguchi
3) Oct. 1 to 2 – Fukuoka
4) Oct. 2 to 5 – Ishigaki
The delegation will meet top government officials from each city, attend the Iwaki City-County of Kauai International Sister City Exchange Cultural Festival 2019 (aka Iwaki-Kauai ‘Ohana Hula Festival), commemorate the 20th anniversary Reaffirmation Ceremony of Ishigaki-Kaua‘i Sister City signing, and attend and speak at the Islander Summit Ishigaki 2019.
TGI asked Monday for the budget of the trip. It was not available by TGI’s deadline late Tuesday.
