On the Island of Volcano !

by Kazu

When my wife and I visited the Big Island first time, we stayed in Waikoloa Beach Marriot Resort and Spa.  I remembered I swam with some dolphins in the pool.  

I also remembered that there were some drawing-like art works on the roadside on our way to the hotel. They were made with many stones on the slope of the roadside.

I was looking for such arts and signs on the roadside. I made the most of the necessity to check up the possible logistic arrangement on the island for the ceremony to establish a sister-state relationship between Hokkaido and Hawaii.

 

When we visited "Big Island "in March of 2017!

by Kazu

Going back to January of 2017, my wife and I visited the "Big Island"  of Hawaii. To be honest, I had to check up the would-be venue of ceremony to sign up for the agreement to establish a sister-state affiliation between Hokkaido and the State of Hawaii. 

In order to check up all the facility, eatery, hotels, transportation and sightseeing points pertinent to the event to be held in May of 2017, I visited the place with my wife for pleasure. 

It was our second time to visit "Big Island" after our marriage in 1993. With the help provided by my friends in Honolulu, I managed to book ourselves in Mauna Lani Bay Resort.   

 

Honolulu in the morning five years ago!

by Kazu

We will celebrate the fifth Anniversary of the Sister-state Affiliation between Hokkaido and Hawaii next year 2022. I hope Hokkaido Prefectural Government will be able to dispatch its official delegation to Hawaii and receive Hawaiian official delegation in Hokkaido.

Remembering the bright sunshine in Waikiki, I keep my fingers and toes crossed praying for the success of the event for that. These photos are the scenery from the window of the room I stayed in Waikiki Park Hotel.

I was so satisfied with my performance and the result in this visit and I was convinced that I grabbed the heart of the Hawaiian people with the photos of the autumnal foliage in Hokkaido as follows. 

 

After the reception!

by Kazu

After the Hokkaido reception to promote the products and produces of Hokkaido in the official residence of the Consul General of Japan, we went to Japanese style bistro "Izakaya  Takonoki" with the staff members of JTB, HTB that contributed to establishing a sister-state affiliation with Hawaii.

Everybody was convinced that the base of the sister-state relationship was developed and it was stable. I think everybody was so satisfied with the result of the reception and our visit to Honolulu.

To be honest, some of the delegation members of Hokkaido had to join the third party thrown by the Vice Governor Mr. Yoshihiro YAMAYA at that time but I could get up early in the morning and enjoy jogging along the beach as I usually do. 

 

Reception in the Residence of Japanese Consul General !

by Kazu

When I made the second official visit to Honolulu, the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu kindly provided the official residence of the Consul General as the venue of the reception to promote the produces and the products in Hokkaido. 

 

Representative Mr. Ken ITO and the Director for the Department of of Business, Economic Development & Tourism Mr. Luis P. Salaveria at that time kindly took part in the reception and gave us good support to establish a sister-state relationship between the regions. 

 

The quality rice was steamed by the official chef of the Consulate General and she made the most of the quality food materials sourced in Hokkaido. We really appreciate her consideration and cooperation. She was introduced in the midst of the reception by the Consulate General. 

 

How to cook the rice !

by Kazu

In retrospect, it was so beautiful a day in Honolulu and I think we could cheered up the shops headquartered in Hokkaido. After we visited BRUG Bakery in Ala Moana Center, we dropped by the rice shop that was prevailing how to cook the rice. 

 

"The Rice Factory" in Honolulu that is run by "Wakka Japan" headquartered in Sapporo makes the point of polishing the grain of rice on the spot in the shop and kindly explain the characteristics of each kind of rice.  

As a result of their efforts on the Pleasure Island, they got the clients such as Halekulani Hotel, Wolf Gang Steak House and other populr eateries and accommodations in Honolulu. I really admire their attitude and efforts to success in Honolulu. 

 

Ala Moana Beach !

by Kazu

There are some "BRUG Bakery" in Honolulu now but this is the first one established in Hawaii and we visited there as the members of the Hokkaido Delegation. It required a great courage for a bakery shop headquartered in Sapporo to explore to Honolulu, I think. 

 

Other than that, accurate culculation on the benefits & costs from the scratch should be conducted as well as the research beforehand. This beautiful blue sky and ocean are so fascinating but to run the bakeries in Honolulu, BRUG had to exert their best efforts on this pleasure island. 

Without withdrawing their branch shops in Honolulu, BRUG Bakery is now flourishing under this blue sky. Please cheer them up from Hokkaido and visit there once a year !