In the spirit of the sister city relationship between Honolulu and Shibuya, Japan, a delegation from Shibuya’s Sports Department visited the City and County of Honolulu for two days of meetings, tours, and cultural exchange. The visit offered a meaningful opportunity for both cities to deepen their collaboration around sports, recreation, and youth engagement.
Day One: Building Institutional Bridges
The delegation’s first day set an ambitious tone, beginning at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where they met with the Athletics Department. Conversations centered on the university’s athletic programs and world-class facilities, as well as potential areas for future collaboration.
From the university, the group made their way to Honolulu Hale for a meeting with Brad Kitsu, Director of International Relations for the Honolulu City Council. We discussed how the sister city framework can help grow international sports exchange programs and strengthen the civic foundation that makes visits like this possible.
Day Two: Community Recreation and the Future of Sport
The second day brought the delegation closer to the everyday heartbeat of Honolulu’s sports and recreation scene, beginning with a morning visit to Hālawa District Park hosted by the Department of Parks and Recreation.
After an overview of the city’s recreation facilities and community programs, the group toured the park grounds and stepped inside the gym to observe a lively pickleball session — a sport that has taken root across Honolulu’s parks with remarkable enthusiasm. The visit continued with a stop at a Line Dance class, followed by a Beginner Archery Class, offering a vivid picture of how Honolulu’s parks serve residents of all ages and abilities.
The afternoon shifted focus to the cutting edge of youth sports. At President Theodore Roosevelt High School, the delegation met with Mark Kauanui, the school’s E-sports Coach, to learn about Honolulu’s growing e-sports programs. The conversation explored how competitive gaming is drawing in a new generation of young athletes and where exchange opportunities between Honolulu and Shibuya — two cities with deep gaming cultures — might take shape in the years ahead.
From university athletics to senior wellness classes, from pickleball courts to e-sports arenas, the Shibuya delegation witnessed the full spectrum of what sport means to the people of Honolulu. The visit reaffirmed the vitality of the Honolulu–Shibuya sister city relationship and planted seeds for future exchanges that could benefit youth, athletes, and communities on both sides of the Pacific.
