Consulate Activities
2026/9/19
2026 Consul General’s Commendation on Ms. Rika Hirata
Ms. Hirata and Consul General Chotoku
Ms. Hirata and Attendees
On September 16, Hideaki CHOTOKU, Consul General of Japan in Honolulu, presented the Consul General’s Commendation to Ms. Rika Hirata.
Ms. Rika Hirata has devoted herself to promoting exchanges between Japan and Hawaii across a wide range of fields, including sister-city relations, cultural exchange, activities within the Japanese American community, and the promotion of educational and economic initiatives. For more than 10 years, she has served as “Ambassador Extraordinary” of the City of Chigasaki for Sister-City Exchange, contributing to the development of ties between Chigasaki and the City and County of Honolulu. She has also worked to preserve and promote the practice of traditional Japanese tea ceremony in her capacity as Director of Omotesenke Domonkai Hawaii. In addition, as President of Peace Bridge, she has supported youth exchanges between Japan and the United States, and has promoted ties with Japan through her involvement with organizations such as the United Japanese Society of Hawaii and the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce. Separately, she has also been involved for many years in educational activities for Japanese children at the Hawaii Japanese School (Rainbow Gakuen).
During the award presentation, Consul General Chotoku delivered a congratulatory address, expressing respect and gratitude for Mr. Hirata's immense passion and energy in promoting exchange between Japan and Hawaii in various fields, thereby making a significant contribution to the promotion of friendship and goodwill between Japan and the United States.
In her acceptance remarks, Ms. Hirata expressed her joy at receiving the award and her gratitude to those who had supported her. She reflected on her years of work to foster ties between Japan and Hawaiʻi and reaffirmed her commitment to continuing her efforts to strengthen bonds between the two communities and further promote mutual exchange and friendship.
Ms. Rika Hirata has devoted herself to promoting exchanges between Japan and Hawaii across a wide range of fields, including sister-city relations, cultural exchange, activities within the Japanese American community, and the promotion of educational and economic initiatives. For more than 10 years, she has served as “Ambassador Extraordinary” of the City of Chigasaki for Sister-City Exchange, contributing to the development of ties between Chigasaki and the City and County of Honolulu. She has also worked to preserve and promote the practice of traditional Japanese tea ceremony in her capacity as Director of Omotesenke Domonkai Hawaii. In addition, as President of Peace Bridge, she has supported youth exchanges between Japan and the United States, and has promoted ties with Japan through her involvement with organizations such as the United Japanese Society of Hawaii and the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce. Separately, she has also been involved for many years in educational activities for Japanese children at the Hawaii Japanese School (Rainbow Gakuen).
During the award presentation, Consul General Chotoku delivered a congratulatory address, expressing respect and gratitude for Mr. Hirata's immense passion and energy in promoting exchange between Japan and Hawaii in various fields, thereby making a significant contribution to the promotion of friendship and goodwill between Japan and the United States.
In her acceptance remarks, Ms. Hirata expressed her joy at receiving the award and her gratitude to those who had supported her. She reflected on her years of work to foster ties between Japan and Hawaiʻi and reaffirmed her commitment to continuing her efforts to strengthen bonds between the two communities and further promote mutual exchange and friendship.