City and County of Honolulu Official Press Release HONOLULU — The City and County of Honolulu and Shonai, Japan, officially signed a Friendship City Agreement today during a ceremony at the Mission Memorial Auditorium, celebrating the long-standing bond between the two communities and their shared commitment to promoting educational, cultural, and economic exchange. Honolulu Mayor… Continue reading November 3, 2025 – City signs Friendship City Agreement with Shonai, Japan
City and County of Honolulu Official Press Release HONOLULU – The Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA), in partnership with the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design, proudly announces the opening of Crafting Connection: Doris Duke’s Moroccan Commissions on Friday, September 5, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at… Continue reading September 5, 2025 – Shangri La exhibition at Honolulu Hale celebrates cultural bonds between Rabat and Honolulu
City and County of Honolulu Official Press Release HIROSHIMA, Japan – Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Wednesday joined hundreds of international representatives and thousands of Japanese citizens at the Hiroshima Peace Park for a solemn ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony is… Continue reading August 6, 2025 – Mayor Blangiardi attends Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on 80th anniversary of atomic bombing
City and County of Honolulu Official Press Release TOKYO, JAPAN — Mayor Rick Blangiardi began his first international Sister City visit as mayor on Friday with a full slate of meetings at the Shibuya City Office and a guided tour of the historic Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine located in the heart of the Tokyo… Continue reading August 1, 2025 – Mayor Blangiardi visits Shibuya City Office, Meiji Jingu on first day in Japan
Mayor Blangiardi had the pleasure to meet with Minister Liu Shyh-Fang, the Minister of the Interior of Taiwan during her trip to Honolulu. Minister Liu was in Honolulu to learn more from Fire and Police professionals during a large exercise that took place in conjunction with the State of Hawaiʻi officials. Minister Liu was accompanied… Continue reading June 10, 2025 – Mayor Blangiardi meets with Taiwanese Minister of the Interior
Mayor Blangiardi, Deputy Managing Director Krishna Jayaram and Chief of Staff Andy Sugg had a courtesy visit from the newly appointed Consul General of the Philippines, Mr. Arman R. Talbo, and Consul Pamela Durian-Bailon. Consul General Talbo mentioned 300,000 Filipinos live in Hawaiʻi, between 150,000 and 180,000 of them live on Oʻahu. It is also… Continue reading April 23, 2025 – Mayor Blangiardi meets with Consul General Arman Talbo and Consul Pamela Durian-Bailon
Mayor Blangiardi had the pleasure to meet with Ambassador Francisco Duarte Lopes, Ambassador of Portugal to the United States and Filipe Ramalheira, Consul General of Portugal in San Francisco. Ambassador Duarte Lopes and Consul General Ramalheira were in Honolulu to visit the Portuguese community living in Hawaii. They indicated 2028 will mark the 150th anniversary… Continue reading March 31, 2025 – Visit of the Ambassador of Portugal and Consul General of Portugal in San Francisco
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
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
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
