Residents of a community 4,390 miles away collected $17,586.55 to help residents of lower Puna who were threatened by the recent lava flow.
Residents of a community 4,390 miles away collected $17,586.55 to help residents of lower Puna who were threatened by the recent lava flow.
The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday accepted the money that was wire-transferred to county coffers by Mayor Masamichi Miyawaki of Yurihama Town, Tottori Prefecture, Japan.
Yurihama, population 20,000, is a farming community on the western shore of the main island of Honshu.
Yurihama and Hawaii County have had a sister city relationship since 1996. It’s one of six Japanese sister cities in a county program that also includes sister cities in Korea, China, the Philippines and Germany.
“They’re very thankful for the 20 years of sharing aloha and hospitality,” said Tommy Goya, a former president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii, the host community organization. “It’s in the heart of everyone to be generous in the time of need.”
Council members praised the generosity of Yurihama, in a nation that also has had its share of natural disasters.
“It was wonderful foresight of our sister city,” said Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter. “They were thinking ahead. I want to thank them for that.”
County administration will determine the best use for the money, and Puna Councilman Greggor Ilagan plans to sponsor a resolution of thanks and some return gifts for the town.
Council Chairman Dru Kanuha of Kona and Hilo Councilman Dennis “Fresh” Onishi took the occasion to emphasize the importance of the county’s sister city program, especially in light of some council members’ unsuccessful moves Monday to trim some of the funding from the budget for other uses.
“This is why the sister cities are important to keep and further enhance,” Kanuha said.
The county budget includes $59,000 for sister city programs, with $33,000 in the Office of Research and Development, $16,000 in the mayor’s entertainment budget and $10,000 in the County Council budget.
“I know it’s been a favorite whipping boy in the budget,” Onishi said, urging the council to reciprocate Yurihama’s generosity. “We can’t be a person or an island that just takes, takes, takes. We’ve got to give, too.”
Onishi said the sister city program also gets a bad rap in the press, while official visits to the cities and hosting sister city officials are important in building relationships.
Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille, one of the council members trying to take the money out of the mayor’s budget, said she realizes the sister city program is important, but she was more concerned about the money being used as a “slush fund” rather than for its intended purpose.
In addition to premium quality grapes and pears, Yurihama’s economy also is supported by fishing and tourism, with its sandy beaches, country setting, temples, shrines, gardens, hot springs resorts and festivals.
Schoolchildren from Hilo and Yurihama visit each other on alternate years, with Yurihama students planning a Hilo visit in July 2016 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the sister city relationship. The Hilo students’ trip to Yurihama in October will be supervised by the East Hawaii Kiwanis Club. The Japanese Chamber also coordinates an annual Hawaiian festival in July, featuring a Hilo-based halau.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.