January 15, 2025 – Nagaoka City Ed Hawkins Project

On January 15, 2025, seventh graders from Nagaoka, Japan, visited Honolulu Hale and met with Mayor Blangiardi, Deputy Managing Director Krishna Jayaram, and Executive Director of MOCA Kaʻili Trask O’Connell.

This initiative began in 2013, even before the Sister City agreement with Nagaoka was formally implemented in 2015. It is supported by Ed Hawkins, former Director of Economic Development under Mayor Caldwell and past President of the Japan-America Society (JASH). Deputy Managing Director Jayaram inquired about the students’ names and their favorite places on Oʻahu so far. He also informed them that he had visited Nagaoka in the past and appreciated the warm welcome he received there. Most of the students traveled to Oʻahu for the first time. Some of the students’ activities included spending time at Island Pacific Academy, participating in a beach cleanup at Ala Moana Beach, and visiting Pearl Harbor and the USS Missouri with students from Mililani Middle School.

Nagaoka-Honolulu history:

Isoroku Yamamoto, a Nagaoka City native, was responsible for the Pearl Harbor attack, leading to war between Japan and the US. In August 2007, Mayor Mori of Nagaoka attended the Japan-US Mayors’ Conference in Honolulu and discussed Yamamoto’s background with Mayor Hanneman. He emphasized the importance of deepening understanding between Honolulu and Nagaoka to enhance friendship between Japan and the US. Mayor Hanneman supported Mori’s proposal for citizen exchanges focused on peace. In March 2012, Mayor Mori led an official delegation to Honolulu, resulting in the signing of a sister city friendship declaration with Mayor Carlisle.

Nagaoka is well-known for its Grand Fireworks Festival, which occurs in August. It first started in 1946 as a war-damaged reconstruction event to mourn the deceased of World War II. In Honolulu, the city of Nagaoka also celebrates the grand finale of the Honolulu Festival with a fireworks show.