Chief of Staff Andy Sugg met with students from Naha, Okinawa, Japan part of the Hawaii Okinawa Student Exchange Program at Honolulu Hale. These high school students are all interested in international exchanges and tourism.
They asked questions about sustainable tourism in Honolulu, roles and duties of the city government with the tourism industry and public safety among other subjects.
The Hawaii United Okinawa Association (HUOA) currently participates in the longest running Hawaii Okinawa Student Exchange Program (HOSEP). This program was initiated in 1990, involving coordination between HUOA, the Hawaii State Legislature, the Hawaii Department of Education, and the Okinawa Prefectural Government.
HOSEP involves a two-week homestay with a Hawaii high school host student and their family. The Okinawa student attends high school with the host student with the exception of three education excursion days organized by the HUOA for the Okinawan students.
This year, twenty (20) Okinawa students were selected from over 200 applicants from high schools throughout Okinawa. The program ran from February 8 through February 22.
The students were accompanied by:
- Mr. Hajime Miyagi
- Mr. Tomoaki Yamada (High School English teacher)
- Ms. Shiori Shimabukuro (High School English teacher)
- Mr. Naoki Oshiro (Okinawa Board of Education Government Representative)
- Mr. Jon Itomura (Executive Director Hawaii United Okinawa Association)
- Mr. David Arakawa (Board Member of the Hawaii Tourism Authority)
Naha City and Honolulu celebrate the 65th anniversary of their Sister City relationship this year in 2025.
