The Bond of the Senate and the Legislative Assembly !

by Kazu

The President of the Senate Mr. Ronald Kouchi delivered welcome words to the official delegation from Hokkaido. I tried to hand the souvenir T-Shirt with the logo of "HOKKAIDO LOVE" to the President but I did not have the one of 3L. Mr. Kouchi could not receive the T-Shirt.

Vice President of the Senate, Senator Michelle Kidani and my friend the Majority Floor Leader Mr. Glenn Wakai joined the meeting. They will give a good support to strengthen and deepen the interactive communication between Hokkaido and Hawaii.  

It was a great honor to escort the official delegation members from Hokkaido and witness the meetings of the top brasses of Hokkaido and Hawaii. I will be back ! 

 

The Hokkaido Delegation visited Senate of the State of Hawaii !

by Kazu

We made a courtesy call on the President of the Senate Mr. Ron Kouchi. We introduced the new driving force to strengthen and deepen the relationship between Hokkaido and Hawaii. My friend Mr. Brian Taniguchi stepped down from the Senate. His friend Mr. Rem Endo, the former Speaker of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly would not run the next election and retire. 

The new key persons who work on the interactive exchange between the regions introduced each other during the meeting. The old friends introduced the new friends. That worked so much.

In order to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Sister-state Affiliation between Hokkaido and the State of Hawaii, we visited Honolulu. Before that the former Governor of the State of Hawaii had made a special visit to Hokkaido in October of 2022. We have to visit each other again and again.

 

The Capitol of the State of Hawaii !

by Kazu

We had to kill time on the ground floor of the capitol.  Soon after our arrival, the delegation members form the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly arrived. Some of them had decided not to run the next election. So some mass media criticized on this business jaunt as a graduate journey.   

But the members seemed to be well-selected because some of the members were the experts of agriculture, race horse raising and dairy foods. The area was and is what the State of Hawaii would like to draw the cooperation from Hokkaido side.  

I had visited this place many times but had a special feeling on that day after three year absence in this state. As soon as possible, I would like to take my wife there as she was eager to meet our friends in Hawaii and the nature.

 

Waikiki at the crack of dawn !

by Kazu

I was convinced of the success of our official visit to Hawaii in this business jaunt. The able staff members struggled to arrange the effective and efficient logistics. It was a pity that the next key person to strengthen and deepen the relationship between Hokkaido and Hawaii could not join the delegation from Hokkaido.

But he will visit Honolulu in coming July to lead the official delegation from Hokkaido headed by the Governor of Hokkaido. I would like to hand down all the connections with the friends in Hawaii to him.

We arrived at the entrance of the capitol of the State of Hawaii a little bit earlier than the time of the appointment. Some parts of the building were refurbished in side of the fence surrounding the building. 

 

Early in the morning on that day of the ceremony!

by Kazu

I jogged around Waikiki and Kuhio Beach  at the crack of dawn on the day of official meeting and reception hosted by the State of Hawaii. No surfers could not be seen early in the morning on that day but when we can see the good wave, some early birds are waiting for the nice waves.  

From the end of a pier, the lights of Waikiki looked so brightly. That is my wife has been craving for. The eastern sky was getting brighter gradually. 

The silhouette of Diamond Head made a subtle connotation of the success on that day. The official meeting with the new Governor of the State of Hawaii Mr. Josh Green, the one with the President of the Senate Mr. Ron Kouchi and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Scott K. Saiki were waiting for us. 

 

The Biggest Event was waiting for us !

by Kazu

Next July, the Sister States and Cities of Hawaii will get together in Honolulu.  The sister-prefecture of the State of Hawaii and the sister-cities of the municipalities in Hawaii are invited from Japan and have a plenary meeting as well as the separate meeting. We hope the Governor of Hokkaido Mr. Naomichi Suzuki will be able to make an official gubernatorial visit to Hawaii in the opportunity and deliver the words of promise to strengthen and broaden the relationship between the citizens of the regions.  

I am not sure who will join the official delegation from Hokkaido but am sure that the key persons who will keep the caring, beneficial and everlasting relationship and hand down to next generations will lead the Team Hokkaido. I hope all the members of next delegation from Hokkaido will be convinced of the necessity to develop the bond. 

Besides, one of my most important missions was to purchase this tumbler in the souvenir shop of Dean and Deluca, Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki. The mission complete on that day.

 

The Banyan Tree in The First Lady of Waikiki !

by Kazu

My immediate supervisor will step down from  the current post soon after this articles were posted. Ｉ hope Ｉ could give a good  support to  make his  way to  the next post happier and  create unforgettable experience in Hawaii. 

Ｉtook their memorial photos  in the courtyard of  the First Lady of  Waikiki Moana Surfrider Resort and  Spa by Westin. The Master of  the courtyard Mr.  Banyan Tree was  illuminated with some vivid color lights. 

Some have changed and  some remains. The banyan tree have witnessed a variety of  important events for each of  us and  the history. 

 

Let's call it a day!

by Kazu

Ｉ love the starter of Hy's  Steak House Waikiki. Its garlic cheese toast really stimulates our  appetite with the Caesar salad and  the local beer " Long Board".  Leaving the main event during our  visit to  Hawaii the next day, we really stretch our  bodies and  legs in the evening on  that day.   

We  stayed in Hotel Malia Waikiki in this business jaunt but Ｉ took my  supervisors and  colleagues to the balcony of  the First Lady of  Waikiki , Moana Surfrider Resort and  Spa by Westin. 

Blown by the comfy ocean breeze, swinging on  the rocking chair on  the balcony was so  nice that some might be nodding off. Ｉ was  so  happy to see them enjoy swinging. 

 

We asked Hawaiian Air !

by Kazu

After paying a courtesy call on  the CEO of  Hawaiian Air Mr.  Peter Ingram, we kept our fingers and toes crossed craving for the resumption of  the direct flights between Hokkaido and  Hawaii. 

Besides, I make a point of  having dinner in Hy's Steak House Waikiki during my stay in Honolulu. So I  took my  colleagues and  friends to  my  favorite restaurant. 

To be honest, I felt a little bit difficulty to reserve a table for us ten on  the phone. Their handling of  the phone call was totally different from  that before the pandemic of  covid-19. Fortunately, I got  a reliable Matre D' in the steak house whose ancestors were from  Japan and  enjoyed ribeye steak for the first time in the recent three years.

 

Direct Flight between Chitose and Honolulu again!

by Kazu

It had  been  five years since we paid a courtesy call on  Hawaiian Air last time. Precisely speaking, a few delegations from  Hokkaido Prefectural Government headed by  other Vice Governor visited this headquarters of the air carrier after our second visit . 

We  Hokkaido citizens should make a point of  keeping an eye on the percentage of  the use of  the direct flights between New Chitose International Airport and  Daniel K. Inoue International Airport  in Oahu . 

The current CEO of  Hawaiian Air Mr.  Ingram  needs to be satisfied with the percentage of  the seat usage in the direct flights. If  the cost performance was  not  undesirable, he would cut the air line.