Mayor Kawakami completes successful Sister City, business development visit to Philippines
LĪHU‘E – Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami and a delegation from Kaua‘i completed a successful diplomatic and business development visit to the Philippines in May.
“On behalf of my family and our Kaua‘i delegation, mahalo to everyone in the Philippines who welcomed us with open arms during my first visit to their beautiful country,” said Mayor Kawakami. “It means the world that everyone took the time to share important elements of Filipino culture – from music, dance, stories, and ideas. On Kaua‘i, we will continue to embrace the value that Filipinos bring to our community and way of life.”
The Northern Ilocos Region Philippines Sister Cities and Manila Business Development Visit spanned from May 20 to 26. The diplomatic trip reforged a robust partnership with the County of Kaua‘i, several Northern Ilocos municipalities, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce officials.
Joining Mayor Kawakami included Consul General Emil Fernandez of the Honolulu Philippine Consulate, Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i President Sherry Menor-McNamara, Miss Hawai‘i Filipina 2022 Xarika Casticimo, officials from the County of Kaua‘i, business leaders, and others.
"I am happy to have been a part of the delegation from Kaua‘i that undertook a visit to the Philippines to touch base with officials of selected municipalities in the Ilocos region that the county has sister and friendship city relationships with,” said Consul General Emil Fernandez, Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu. “We could not have asked for a warmer and more hospitable reception. The trip also enabled delegation members to explore economic opportunities through engagements with leading business chambers. It was evident that Filipinos were charmed with Mayor Kawakami’s demeanor and sincerity in forging deeper ties between the people of Kaua‘i and the cities visited."
The trip began with Laoag City – an established Sister City with Kaua‘i in 2011. Mayor Kawakami and the Kaua‘i delegation met with Laoag Mayor Michael Marcos Keon and city officials.
The following day, the Kaua‘i delegation visited Vigan City and Ilocos Sur Governor Jerry Singson. After Vigan, the Kaua‘i delegation headed to Candon City – a Friendship City established in 2018 – and met with Candon City Mayor Eric D. Singson and a large crowd of government officials and city members.
The trip's next leg was a stop at the Municipality of Bangued – an established Sister City with the County of Kaua‘i in 2000. The Kaua‘i delegation met with Bangued Mayor Mila Acosta Valera and several dozen municipality officials and staff.
Following Bangued, the Kaua‘i Delegation headed to the Municipality of Santa, an established Sister City of the County of Kaua‘i in 2011. Mayor Kawakami and his delegation were greeted by Santa Mayor Jesus B. Bueno Jr and various Santa government officials.
After a visit to the City of Cabugao, where the delegation met with Mayor Edgardo S. Cobangbang Jr, Mayor Kawakami concluded the Sister City portion of the trip with dinner in Laoag with city officials.
On the final leg of the visit, the Kaua‘i delegation was joined by Sherry Menor-McNamara, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i, and met with officials from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham).
“A bridge exists between Hawai‘i and the Philippines – beginning with the first sakada that helped build the sugar industry, the primary economic driver of the state before tourism,” said Mayor Kawakami. “Filipinos in Hawai‘i play a crucial role in every level of our society, and we hope that the PCCI and AmCham will hold future meetings and collaboration with Hawai‘i business leaders and officials.”
Topics discussed in the meeting with PCCI included student exchange opportunities, workforce shortage in the visitor industry, sustainability efforts, and future business opportunities between Hawai‘i and the Philippines.
“I was honored to represent the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i as part of Mayor Kawakami’s delegation to the Philippines. Our meetings with PCCI and AmCham were extremely productive,” said President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i Sherry Menor-McNamara. “This is just the beginning of our partnership. Together we will create economic development opportunities to solve challenges with collaborative solutions for Kaua‘i and the State of Hawai‘i. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with both organizations.”
The day's final meeting concluded with AmCham members, where importing and exporting, the visitor industry, and workforce development were among the topics discussed.
“We turned to the Philippines to develop further educational and workforce exchange,” said Mayor Kawakami. “Our primary goal is to make a strong push to reestablish our relationship with the Philippines, looking at each other as resources and bridges for future collaboration and partnerships.”
  Laoag Mayor Michael Marcos Keon (left) and Mayor Derek Kawakami greet each other in Laoag City Hall on May 22.
 Mayor Derek Kawakami (left), with members of the Kaua‘i delegation, meet with Ilocos Sur Governor Jerry Singson (right) in Vigan on May 23.
The Kaua‘i delegation renewed Friendship City ties with Candon at Candon City Arena on May 23.
Mayor Derek Kawakami (left), Consul General Emil Fernandez, and Candon City Mayor Eric Singson (right) pay tribute to the first Sakada workers who migrated from the Philippines to Hawai‘i.
The Kaua‘i delegation and the Municipality of Bangued reaffirm their Sister City partnership in Bangued Municipal Hall on May 24.
 Consul General Emil Fernandez (left), Miss Hawai‘i Filipina 2022 Xarika Casticimo, Cabugao City Mayor Edgardo S. Cobangbang Jr (middle), Mayor Derek Kawakami, and Managing Director Michael Dahilig (right) meet on May 24 (photo credit: Crestine Hauser).
 Mayor Derek Kawakami (left) and Santa Mayor Jesus B. Bueno Jr reaffirm Kaua‘i’s and Santa’s Sister City partnership on May 24.
 Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) representatives meet with the Kaua‘i delegation on May 25.
 AmCham representatives meet with Mayor Derek Kawakami (second from left) and Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i President and CEO Sherry Menor-McNamara (right) at the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines on May 25.
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