Business Development and Support Division

2015 will mark the 30th Anniversary of Hawaii’s sister-state relationship with Okinawa Prefecture. Okinawa Prefecture and Hawaii United Okinawa Association officials visited recently with DBEDT Director Richard Lim (far left) and Sen. Brian Taniguchi (center) to discuss plans. Since sisterhood, many educational, business and cultural exchanges have taken place between the two jurisdictions. Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima plans to visit Hawaii in late August to further discuss events commemorating the anniversary, as well as attend the Hawaii Okinawan Festival 2014.