Consulate Activities
2026/5/28
The Hawaiʻi-Japan Sister Summit Welcome Reception
Consul General Chotoku delivering remarks at the reception
Governor Green delivering remarks at the reception
On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Consul-General Chotoku, in cooperation with the Japan-America Society of Hawaiʻi (JASH), hosted the 2nd Hawaiʻi-Japan Sister State and Sister City Summit (hereinafter Sister Summit) Welcome Reception at the Official Residence of the Consul General.
The reception was held ahead of the Sister Summit, which took place at the Hilton Hawaiʻian Village, and the Hawai’i -Japan Economic & Policy Forum (invted only event). It provided an opportunity for participants from both Japan and Hawaiʻi to gather and deepen exchanges and friendship.
The Sister Summit is an international conference organized by JASH in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). The summit brings together governors, mayors, and representatives from Japanese local governments that maintain sister or friendship relationships with Hawaiʻi. Through face-to-face exchanges with Hawaiʻi’s government officials, business leaders, and experts, the summit aims to strengthen Japan-Hawaiʻi cooperation by discussing shared challenges in areas such as sustainable energy, education, tourism, business, and economic development.
Following the inaugural summit held in 2023, this year’s summit featured panel discussions and breakout sessions on six themes: Health and Wellness, Pop Culture Business, Economic Impact Between Hawaiʻi and Japan, Disaster Preparedness and Resilience, Geopolitics and Security, and Sports Diplomacy. The sessions facilitated lively exchanges of ideas and served as a valuable opportunity to further deepen the longstanding friendship between Japan and Hawaiʻi while exploring areas for practical future cooperation.
The reception was held ahead of the Sister Summit, which took place at the Hilton Hawaiʻian Village, and the Hawai’i -Japan Economic & Policy Forum (invted only event). It provided an opportunity for participants from both Japan and Hawaiʻi to gather and deepen exchanges and friendship.
The Sister Summit is an international conference organized by JASH in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). The summit brings together governors, mayors, and representatives from Japanese local governments that maintain sister or friendship relationships with Hawaiʻi. Through face-to-face exchanges with Hawaiʻi’s government officials, business leaders, and experts, the summit aims to strengthen Japan-Hawaiʻi cooperation by discussing shared challenges in areas such as sustainable energy, education, tourism, business, and economic development.
Following the inaugural summit held in 2023, this year’s summit featured panel discussions and breakout sessions on six themes: Health and Wellness, Pop Culture Business, Economic Impact Between Hawaiʻi and Japan, Disaster Preparedness and Resilience, Geopolitics and Security, and Sports Diplomacy. The sessions facilitated lively exchanges of ideas and served as a valuable opportunity to further deepen the longstanding friendship between Japan and Hawaiʻi while exploring areas for practical future cooperation.