March 7, 2025 – Visit from Nagaoka City & Nagaoka Fireworks Foundation

Nagaoka City and Nagaoka Fireworks Foundation officials visited Honolulu Hale to meet with Deputy Managing Director Krishna Jayaram and Executive Director of MOCA, Kaʻili Trask O’Connell to express their appreciation for the City & County of Honolulu’s cooperation during Honolulu Festival. In 2012, Honolulu and Nagaoka established their sister city relationship. That same year, Nagaoka… Continue reading March 7, 2025 – Visit from Nagaoka City & Nagaoka Fireworks Foundation

March 6, 2025 – Visit from Mayor Sato and Chair Kishi of Chigasaki

Mayor Blangiardi, accompanied by Deputy Managing Director Krishna Jayaram, Chief of Staff Andy Sugg, Executive Director of MOCA Kaʻili Trask O’Connell had the pleasure to welcome Mayor Sato, Chair Kishi of Chigasaki and Ms. Rika Hirata, Ambassador Extraordinary for the City of Chigasaki, at Honolulu Hale. This was Chair Kishi’s first time meeting Mayor Blangiardi.… Continue reading March 6, 2025 – Visit from Mayor Sato and Chair Kishi of Chigasaki

February 26, 2025 – Bishop Ito visits Mayor Blangiardi

Bishop Isao Ito, Chairman of the Univers Foundation (Japan) met with Mayor Blangiardi on February 26. Mayor Blangiardi thanked him for his continued support and prayers and emphasized how his job is “the responsibility, the challenge and the privilege of a lifetime”. Bishop Ito mentioned that the “road is filled with chaos, our planet is… Continue reading February 26, 2025 – Bishop Ito visits Mayor Blangiardi

February 12, 2025 – Chief of Staff meets with students from Naha City, Okinawa

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… Continue reading February 12, 2025 – Chief of Staff meets with students from Naha City, Okinawa

February 11, 2025 – Honolulu and Uwajima commemorate 20-year sister city relationship with re-signing ceremony

The City and County of Honolulu and the City of Uwajima, Japan, celebrated the 20th anniversary of their sister city relationship with a re-signing ceremony in Mission Memorial Auditorium. The event reaffirmed the strong ties between the two cities, which were first formalized on June 14, 2004, following the tragic sinking of the Japanese fishing… Continue reading February 11, 2025 – Honolulu and Uwajima commemorate 20-year sister city relationship with re-signing ceremony

February 10, 2025 – Mayor Okahara and Chair Matsumoto of Uwajima visit Honolulu Hale

Mayor Okahara and Chair Matsumoto of Uwajima City along with their team spent time with Deputy Managing Director Krishna Jayaram and Executive Director Kaʻili Trask O’Connell to thank them for their hospitality before the ceremony celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Sister City Relationship between Honolulu and Uwajima the next day.

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… Continue reading January 15, 2025 – Nagaoka City Ed Hawkins Project