Sister City of the County of Hawai`i

Yurihama Town, Tottori Prefecture, Japan

By Tommy Goya

Sister City Relationship 

The Sister City relationship with the County of Hawaii and Hawai Cho was established in 1996 by then Mayors Steven Yamashiro of Hawaii County and Masanao Inoue of Hawai Cho. At that time, an additional agreement between the County of Hawaii and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii was signed designating the Chamber as the host community organization. In 2004, the townships of Hawai Cho, Togo and Tomari were formally merged to become Yurihama. In 1995, a reaffirmation agreement was signed by Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim and Yurihama Mayor Tsuneo Yamamoto. And in 2013, current Yurihama Mayor Masaichi Miyawaki made an official visit to Hilo. All three of the Yurihama mayors have professed their full commitment to the Sister City relationship and that goodwill will lead to other benefits. They also professed to a strong interest in furthering their knowledge of Hawaiian and Western cultures, and they look forward to annually hosting the Mayor of the County of Hawaii.

Yurihama Background

Yurihama has a population of about 20,000 residents. The town is in Tottori Prefecture and is on the Western shore of the main island of Honshu. The economy is primarily agriculture (featuring premium quality grapes and pears), fishing and tourism (with sandy beaches, a country setting, temples and shrines, gardens, festivals and hot springs resorts). The central attraction is Lake Togo with its natural hot springs. Getting to Yurihama is not easy by land transportation as a bus ride is nearly 5 hours from Osaka's Kansai Airport. Daily flights are available from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Tottori.

A Hawaiian Festival is held annual in July which features a Hilo-based Halau. This venue provides many opportunities for cultural exchange and hands on arts and craft. There are also wonderful workshops for the youth and the elderly. Chamber
member, Amy Aoyagi, helps coordinate all of these activities. Amy is also the initiator of the Aloha Shirt program in which lightly-used aloha shirts are collected from Japanese Chamber members in Hilo and distributed to Yurihama government employees to wear during the hot and humid summer months. She initiated this program after observing visiting delegations purchase many aloha shirts on their visits to Hilo. Hilo's own Loco Moco is on the menu at some restaurants.

Student Exchange Program

The Hilo Intermediate School Builders Club under the supervision of the East Hawaii Kiwanis Club has been making biennial trips to Yurihama for many years. The students do their own fundraising for their trips. Preparation for this year's October trip includes learning about the background of Yurihama and the culture of Japanese people as well as brushing up on their own family backgrounds and the Hawaiian culture. As ambassadors from Hawaii, they all learn to sing Hawaiian songs and dance the hula. They stay with host families for five days.

Yurihama students also visit Hawaii biennially. We reciprocate the Japanese hospitality with our Aloha hospitality. They are hosted by home-stay families and visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Nawahi Charter School, the Mayor's office, as well as island-wide points of interest. They attend our schools and participate in many traditional craft activities. They will be visiting Hilo in July 2016.

Unlike the Hawaii Central School System, their Department of Education is under the jurisdiction of the Yurihama Government and is the primary sponsor of the student visitation program. English as a second language is taught at the middle school level.  

Taiko Lessons

By Mike Miyahira 

  
 I grew up watching Taiko performances at Bon Dances, ceremonial dinners, and various community events. I met Johnny Mori who was formerly with the Asian jazz fusion group, Hiroshima. Besides Hiroshima, Johnny also performed with a Taiko group in Southern California. I've always been fascinated by the rhythmic beats generated by good Taiko performers. So when our Social & Cultural Committee announced the introductory session for Chamber members with Taishoji Taiko, I signed up right away. 

17th Annual

A Taste of Hilo

By Russell Arikawa

It is hard to believe that we're already on our 17th Annual Taste of Hilo! The inaugural event took place in 1999 at the Nani Mau Gardens. Today, the TOH has grown as one of the most popular and anticipated food events in East Hawaii. 

 

Creating Effective Mentorship in a Workplace

By Charlene Iboshi

   

Hawaii Community College Updates

By Chancellor Noreen Yamane 
 

Hawai'i Community College is pleased to be offering a series of non-credit classes in agriculture this summer. Touching on a variety of subjects, the classes are designed to provide training that leads to jobs in agriculture for the unemployed, professional improvement for those already employed in agriculture, and instruction for those who want to work in the agriculture field.

The classes are part of the C3T-1 program that Hawai'i CC and other University of Hawai'i Community Colleges are participating in.

C3T Hawai'i is a $24.6 million grant awarded to the University of Hawai'i Community Colleges through the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. The grant fuels the development of education and training curriculum and student academic/career coaching, which targets certificate and degree programs specific to the needs of agriculture, energy and health industries. These industry-focused, employer-driven programs are designed to increase college completion rates and provide job opportunities to the C3T participants.

The following agriculture classes are being offered this summer:

* Home and Community Food Security, Friday, June 5 and Friday, July 24. Cost for each one-day class is $59.

* Farm Management, Thursday, 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, 9 am-3:30 pm, June 11-27. Cost: $59.

* Integrated Pest Management, Tuesday, 6-8 pm and Thursday, 9 am-3:30 pm, June 30-July 16. Cost: $59.

* Irrigation Repair and Theory, Thursday, 6-8 pm and Saturday, 9 am-3:30 pm, July 23-Aug.8. Cost: $59.

* Horticultural Operations (HOP), Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9 am-2:30 pm, July 27-Aug. 13. Cost: $67.

For more information on how to register for these classes and about the course contents, contact Linda Burnham Larish, C3T-1 Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator at Hawai`i CC, at 934-2687 or by email llarish@hawaii.edu.

Palamanui a Model of Sustainability

The new Hawai'i Community College - Pulamanui campus is scheduled to open in Fall 2015 in North Kona. This is an exciting development for West Hawai'i because it means that for the first time the community will have permanent facilities for higher education.

One interesting aspect of the new branch campus is the level of sustainability incorporated into the design. Hawai'i Community College - Palamanui has attained a Platinum rating from the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program. Platinum is the highest status in the LEED green building program.

The campus attained this status with:

* An on-site Photovoltaic Solar System

*  Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Wood Products

*   Maximized use of daylight

* Low-emitting paints, adhesives, and other materials

* Design techniques for limiting storm water run-off

* An on-site constructed wetlands wastewater treatment system 

* And more....

The University of Hawai'i system has established a sustainability policy, and Hawai'i Community College - Pālamanui is helping to lead the way.

   

Aloha and Happy Summer from TMT!

   

In Hawaii and Japan, Obon is one of the most important Japanese traditions. People believe that their ancestors' spirits come back to their homes to be reunited with their family during Obon and pray for the spirits. Obon is an important family time, and many people return to their hometowns in celebration. 

During this period, people clean their houses and place a variety of food offerings such as rice and fruits to the spirits of ancestors in front of a butsudan (Buddhist altar). Also, Chochin lanterns and arrangements of flower are usually placed next to the butsudan. You can smell the burning of senko incense that fills the air at the Japanese houses and cemeteries.

Another part of the tradition is Toro nagashi (floating lanterns) that is often observed during Obon. Usually, people send off their ancestors' spirits with the lanterns, lit by a candle inside and floated down a river into the ocean. In the recent lantern ceremony in Honolulu, the theme was "Many rivers, One Ocean"!

Along with other events during Obon, is the bon odori (folk dance) which is widely practiced on Obon nights. Variety of styles of dance vary from area to area, usually Japanese taiko drums keep the rhythms. In Hawaii and Japan, people go to their neighborhood bon odori held at parks, gardens, shrines, or temples, wearing yukata (summer kimono) and dance around a yagura stage. Anyone can participate in bon odori, and it is welcome to join the circle and imitate what others are doing.

 2015 Obon Service and Dance Schedule on the Big Island

July 11:Kona Daifukuji Soto Mission

July 17-18: Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin

July 18: Keei Buddhist Church (Kona Hongwanji

Aug. 8: Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission

Aug. 15: Hakalau Jodo Mission
Aug. 29: Honohina Hongwanji

 
 

Please check out the current benefits and discounts that you can take advantage of as a JCCIH member!   

Gina Tanouye, Allstate - Speegle Insurance Agency is dedicated to providing outstanding service with Aloha for your auto, home, renters, life insurance and financial service needs. Contact Gina Tanouye at tgina@allstate.com or 969-7767. For every referral the office receives, the member will receive a $10 gift card for allowing them to provide an insurance quote. 

Kagari Fujita, Ph. D, Big Island Wisteria, LLC is offering members translation services of Japanese to English, or English to Japanese at a discounted price. Contact Kagari Fujita at fujitakg@gmail.com   

Amelia Hayashi, Bob's Jewelers is offering members 30% off watches; 30% off gold jewelry (Po Son Hon collection excluded); and 30% off sterling silver jewelry.  Contact Amelia Hayashi at 935-8434. 

Diann Horita - With an office in Hilo, Eyewear Hilo has been serving Keaau, Papaikou, Kurtistown and Waimea for more than 4 years. Prior to beginning in Dec. 2008, the staff was employed by Eyewear Hawaii, Inc. and that same respected service is found at Eyewear Hilo.  When you desire superior cutting edge lens technology, call Eyewear Hilo at 935-1119. Members will receive a 20% discount. 

 
Joy Madriaga, Hawaii Petroleum, Inc., HPI offers dependable bulk fuel and lubricant delivery services to all districts of the island.  HPI's proprietary gas card program - Hawaii Fueling Network - provides a convenient, cost saving way for businesses and consumers to fuel. As a member, when you sign up with HFN, you will receive a discount on your gas purchase.  Contact Joy Madriaga at 969-1405 for further questions.  Applications are available at the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii.  

Sandy Wilson, Wilson's Trophies, provides awards for sports and academics; signs and banners; corporate awards, gifts & recognition; custom and personalized products (made to order); wood and acrylic crafting (laser engraving and designs); special occasions (Valentine's, Christmas, etc.); jewelry items (earrings, pendants, hair picks and more). Members will receive awards discounts. Contact Sandy Wilson at 969-7077.