On July 2, the Signing Ceremony for the Reaffirmation of Sister City Relationship between the cities of Hiroshima and Honolulu, Ceremonial Tree Planting, and the Reception were taken place to commemorate the 60
th anniversary of the sister city relations between the City and County of Honolulu and Hiroshima.
1. The Signing Ceremony was held at Honolulu Hale. Mayor Caldwell of the City and County of Honolulu and Mayor Matsui of Hiroshima City signed a document reaffirming the friendship of those two cities. Consul General Ito also attended the ceremony.
2. In the afternoon, a ceremonial tree planting took place at Foster Botanical Garden. The two mayors planted a mukunoki tree, which is grown from the seed of mukunoki that survived the atomic bombing in Hiroshima.
3. In the evening, a reception was held at Consul General Ito’s official residence to commemorate the 60
th anniversary of the sister city relations between the City and County of Honolulu and Hiroshima City. Around 160 people representing Honolulu and Hiroshima attended the event. Attendants from Japan included the Hiroshima City delegation led by Mayor Matsui, and from the Hawaii side, Mayor Caldwell and other officials from the City and County of Honolulu. The members of the Honolulu Hiroshima Kenjinkai also participated. At the reception, the guests were entertained with local food and dishes of Hiroshima as well as goods and products of Hiroshima. They also enjoyed a musical performance by the Hiroshima Junior Marimba Ensemble and the Royal Hawaiian Band.
