The Pacific Tsunami Museum in downtown Hilo recently welcomed a delegation from Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
The city was one of the most severely devastated by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, with more than 1,000 people reported dead or missing. The group included a representative from the Kamaishi Reconstruction Bureau, a member from the Destination Management Office, as well as five junior high school student ambassadors who were selected through an essay contest.
Joining the group were five students from Hilo High School who participated in a cultural exchange, along with their teacher, Aya Shehata.
The purpose of their visit was to learn more about how the Pacific Tsunami Museum uses tsunami stories and survivor experiences to teach younger generations the importance of learning from the past to prevent tragedy in the future. Docent Dian Mahoney was on hand to provide the group with compelling stories from tsunami events in Hawaii and around the world.
Museum executive director Marlene Murray was presented with a letter from the mayor of Kamaishi City, Takenori Noda, who expressed his desire to establish a cooperative agreement with the museum.
For more information about the museum, call 935-0926 or visit www.tsunami.org.