Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi and Yukiharu Inoue, the mayor of Miyako in Fukuoka, Japan, signed a memorandum of understanding for mutual friendship in a brief ceremony Oct. 19 in the mayor’s office.
Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi and Yukiharu Inoue, the mayor of Miyako in Fukuoka, Japan, signed a memorandum of understanding for mutual friendship in a brief ceremony Oct. 19 in the mayor’s office.
The same day, Inoue also signed an agreement for mutual friendship and student exchange with St. Joseph School, represented by principal Dr. Llewellyn Young.
Kenoi’s office said the agreement acknowledges mutual intention to develop various exchanges in culture, education and tourism. It is not an agreement for sister city relationship.
Miyako has sent about 70 intermediate school students to Hilo since 2012. The students joined the Japanese class of the school and stayed with host families arranged by Hawaii Shima Fukuoka Kenjinkai. The students also visited a museum, Ireito monument at Alae Cemetery and the mayor’s office, learning about Hawaii and Japanese influence to local culture.
Miyako is on Kyushu Island and its population is 21,000. Most of its 37,000-acres of land is forest and rice fields. The major industry is the production of rice, tea and bamboo shoots and forestry. There are rock foundations of temples or government buildings built in the eighth century.
Young hopess to continue development of student exchanges between St. Joseph School and four public intermediate schools that Miyako administers. St. Joseph School plans to send its students to Miyako as early as next summer.