Business Development and Support Division

Governor Neil Abercrombie and Richard Lim, Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) met with a delegation from Fukushima, Japan, led by Governor Yuhei Sato. Governor Sato extended much appreciation to Governor Abercrombie for the State of Hawaii’s kind message following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.

Hawaii and Fukushima share similar goals related to a commitment to transition to renewable energy resources. “The Japan-based New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has been working with the State of Hawaii on a smart grid demonstration project on Maui. In the future, there may be opportunities for Hawaii and Fukushima to collaborate on renewable energy research,” said Richard Lim.

Hawaii’s connection to Fukushima is best known through the Spa Resort Hawaiians, the first theme park to be built in Japan that currently has a Hawaii theme. The Resort is best known for its hula girls who became a symbol of hope and recovery for the affected regions hit by the 2011 disaster.