Remarks at the Work Shop for Island Industrial Ecology and Sustainability

By Yoshi Kamo, Consul General of Japan in Honolulu

January 5, 2011

Distinguished participants,

Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu!

Aloha!

It is always difficult for anybody to speak after Mayor Kenoi. But I will try anyway. It is an honor and privilege for me to be here with you this evening. As a local resident of Hawaii, my case O’ahu though, I would like to extend a hearty welcome to all participants who came from U.S. mainland and Japan, and those from the rest of Asia and the Pacific. It is my hope that you will enjoy your stay in the Big Island, blessed with nature and history.

Many of you may amuse why I am here. I am a Japanese local diplomat based in Honolulu. My presence here has been made possible by sort of a courtesy extended to me by Yale University professors and Japanese University professors, Tokyo and Waseda, to be more precise, against the following backdrop, I assume.

I spent one summer many, many years ago in New Haven to attend an ESL class held on the Yale campus. It was my first overseas exposure, culture, language, people and many more. I still remember our teacher’s name. Professor Hanaki of Tokyo University contacted me last year, telling me if I was interested in showing up in this Work Shop. I have never met him before, but he was so kind and encouraged me to attend. So I decided to come. Although he and I graduated from the same college, I am a failed engineer who ended up in the Foreign Service, while he has pursued his academic career as a main streamer. Professor Saito of Waseda University took care of me by making all necessary arrangements for my participation. I am truly thankful to them.

I am grateful to Hawaii, which enabled me to have this wonderful opportunity to meet with wonderful people who are grappling with some of the most salient issues we have at this critical juncture. Hawaii is an ideal place to get together and discuss this important theme for its unique location and character. All the issues you are going to discuss are relevant to Hawaii’s own challenges. Or should I say they are crucial to Hawaii’s future. But they are so daunting, complex and difficult to solve.

The year before last celebrated the 50^th anniversary of Hawaii’s statehood. Former Governor of Hawaii, George Ariyoshi published a small booklet for high school students, encouraging them to prepare for the next 50 years by developing a sustainable island economy, harmonious with nature and traditional values and heritage. He stressed the importance of agriculture and land use, among other things. Hawaii is heavily restrained by the scarce of energy resources. They have to import everything. It may be a paradise for surfers, but it may be a hell for economic development strategists. The Hawaiian community used to have their own sustainable eco-friendly economic and societal system. It is sad to say that with the passage of time, they have almost gone.   

So what I am trying to say is simple. You will find ardent listeners in the State Legislature of Hawaii or the City and County Chamber of Honolulu. They are waiting for your thoughts and suggestions. So do many other island nations located in the Pacific area. Island industrial ecology and sustainability is a common theme for them to tackle when they aspire to grow. Whether CO2 reduction techniques or green energy innovation, they want to apply a solid success model to their own economy.

Among the initiatives related to island sustainability, what is now being pursued by the United States and Japan, under the name of the Hawaii- Okinawa Cooperation on Clean Energy deserves a special mentioning. Based upon the 2009 U.S.-Japan national agreement on clean energy development, both countries are now preparing for formulating joint pilot projects in Okinawa and Hawaii on clean energy. These two islands have a lot in common. There should be a room for collaboration. There should be useful models that are to be emulated by the other island nations in the region. It is my hope that the APEC Leaders Week in Honolulu in November 2011 generates a follow wind to move forward this project to decent fruition.

So I must conclude my remarks by wishing the Work Shop a well- deserved success. May Hawaii will inspire you to be more creative and practical. Please remember that your findings will be put into application by local politicians. Your recommendations may help Hawaiians and other islanders to address their life and death issues. Please render support to them. Your wisdom is highly appreciated. Your commitment is highly valued. You can chart the course to sustainable and harmonious prosperity for the benefit of many small island people.

Thank you very much. Mahalo!

(c) Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu
1742 Nuuanu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96817 USA
Tel: 808-543-3111