More in 2013
MCSCF attended the Sister Cities International 57th Annual Conference "The Power of Exchange: Creating Sustainable Cities & Sustainable Relationships" in San Antonio, Texas, July 12-13, 2013, with full participation in the Pan Pacific Summit.
2013 GREETINGS!
Efforts to revitalize many of our sister cities relationships included this 2013 greeting card.
We are especially happy that it rekindled relations with Pingtung, Taiwan; Fukuyama, Japan; Sao Miguel, Azores; Madeira, Portugal; and Albi, France!
Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan ~ 5th Anniversary Celebration
Maui County Sister Cities Foundation brought Maui County’s Sister City of Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan (established by Resolution No. 08-10, February 11, 2008) to the Maui County Fair, October 2, 3, 4 and 5, 2013. A delegation of government officials included Fukuyama Mayor Akira Hada, Fukuyama City Council Vice-Chair Shoichi Hougi, Mrs. Akiko Hougi, Fukuyama City Councilors Tomohiro Ogawa, Takeshi Sudou, Yusuke Ota, Yoshiyuki Hayakawa, staffers Ms. Kathy Rice, Shinya Higashikawa, Secretariat Division, and Mitsuaki Kitagawa, Assistant Division Manager.
The Fukuyama delegation arrived October 2, 2013, beginning the 5th anniversary celebration of the two city's relationship with a rose planting ceremony at Kalana O Maui with Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa, and an exchange of gifts. Fukuyama City presented a traditional koto musical instrument and Maui resident Ms. Mika Inaba played a few Japanese and Hawaiian songs on the Koto.
Maui County Council Chair Gladys Baisa, as well as Vice-Chair Robert Carroll and Councilmembers Don Couch, Mike Victorino, Stacey Crivello were present. The welcome ceremony included hula dancing by Halau Hula Keola Kealii O Ke Kai, Iola Balubar, Kumu Hula.
Fukuyama City brought 12 members of the Wadaiko Hibiki Gumi taiko group to perform at the Maui County Fair. The taiko group was hosted to a welcome dinner by Maui Taiko that evening. Maui Taiko is a partner with MCSCF in hosting visiting delegations.
Elected officials attended a dinner co-hosted by the Maui Japanese Chamber of Commerce and MCSCF.
The group was provided sightseeing and infrastructure visits to the Wind Farm and a visit to the Mayor’s office for economic development partnership discussions. They also participated in the Annual Maui County Fair Parade along Kaahumanu Avenue. The Hibikigumi Taiko group performed twice at the Maui County Fair and was warmly welcomed as a Sister City by the people of Maui.