Kin and Honolulu sign a friendship agreement on the 120-year anniversary of Okinawans first emigrating from Okinawa to Hawaii

Kin and Honolulu sign a friendship agreement on the 120-year anniversary of Okinawans first emigrating from Okinawa to Hawaii

Mayors Hajime Nakama of Kin (center of the front row) and Kirk Caldwell of Honolulu (front row, 5th from the left) smiling at the friendship agreement signing ceremony. February 10, at Honolulu City Hall in Hawaii (photograph provided by Kin)


February 12, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

The town of Kin (Hajime Nakama, mayor) and the city of Honolulu (Kirk Caldwell, mayor), signed a friendship agreement on February 11 at Honolulu City Hall as part of a celebration of Okinawa’s first emigrants to Hawaii from Kin 120 years ago.

They will also work on a cultural exchange program for the children of both municipalities.

At the signing ceremony, Mayor Nakama remarked “While being respectful of one another, I want to increase prosperity through cultural and persona exchange.

Like our predecessors from Kin, who pioneered a new future, I want this moment today to open up an entirely new future.

” Mayor Caldwell commented, “I expect this agreement will serve as the opportunity to level up our cultural exchange.”

Kin is known as the birthplace of Okinawan emigration, from when Kyuzo Toyama, known as the father of emigration, left Kin for Hawaii on December 5, 1899.

At the reception for the signing ceremony, members from Yuhi Taiko came from Kin to put on a hearty performance, which elicited applause and whistles from the crown.

George Toyama, 38, head of the Kin Town people’s association, which is made up of emigrants to Hawaii and their descendants, said smiling, “This friendship agreement has a great significance to our organization and it makes me very happy.

This will further strengthen the bond with Kin, and we want to help develop the relationship between the two towns.

Just prior to the signing of the agreement, Mayor Nakama paid a visit to the tomb of Kyuzo Toyama at Mililani Memorial Park on February 8.

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

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