County of Kaua‘i, Laoag City celebrates Sister City ties last week
LĪHU‘E – Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami and his staff, the Kaua‘i County Council, and members of the Kaua‘i Filipino community welcomed Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon and his delegation to the island of Kaua‘i last week to celebrate and strengthen their Sister City ties.
“Mayor Keon and the City of Laoag were the very first officials to welcome us with open arms during our Sister City visit to the Philippines last summer,” said Mayor Kawakami. “On behalf of my family and the County of Kaua‘i, we are very grateful for their hospitality and welcome them to Kaua‘i.”
On Friday, Aug. 9, Mayor Kawakami and his team, with the Kaua‘i County Council, welcomed Mayor Keon and his delegation to a courtesy visit and gathering at Kilohana Plantation.
“We thank our delegation from Laoag City for visiting,” said Kaua‘i County Council Chair Mel Rapozo. “I look forward to exploring future opportunities where we can collaborate.”
The following day, Aug. 10, in coordination with the Office of the Mayor, Office of the Economic Development, and members of the Kaua‘i Filipino community, Mayor Keon and his delegation conducted site visits of Lydgate Beach Park, Ke Ala Hele Makālae, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative’s Anahola Solar Farm, and Hā‘ena State Park.
“Public, private, and community partnerships are part of the groundwork for successful initiatives and projects for our island,” said Mayor Kawakami. “We wanted to illustrate to our Sister City Delegation from Laoag the collaborative efforts here on Kaua‘i, especially with our partners with the Friends of Kamalani Playground and Lydgate Park, KIUC, Hanalei Initiative, the State of Hawai‘i, and Hui Maka‘ainana o Makana.”
Mayor Keon’s delegation included the following:
- Hon. Mayor Michael Marcos Keon
- Ms. Simonette c. Soriano, wife of Mayor Keon
- Hon. James Bryan Q. Alcid, Councilor
- Hon. Handy Lao, president Philippine Councilor's league/Councilor
- Hon. Jaybee G. Baquiran, Councilor
- Hon. Jason Bader ll. Perera, Councilor
- Hon. Derick B. Lao, Councilor
- Hon. Roque Benjamin C. Ablan, President Association of Barangay Council/ Councilor
- Hon. Michael Christophe R. Agustin, SK Federarion President/Councilor
- Ms. Angel A. Lao, City Tourism Officer
- Ms. Jennifer Frances N. Gapuzan, Community Affairs Officer II
- Mr. Smith Gerardo, Administrative Aid I
Mayor Michael Marcos Keon (left) receives a plaque that commemorates his visit to Kaua‘i from Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami (middle), with Kaua‘i Council Chair Mel Rapozo (right).
The County of Kaua‘i and Laoag City established their Sister City relationship in March 2011. Members of the Laoag City delegation, Mayor Derek Kawakami and his staff, the Kaua‘i County Council, and members of the Kaua‘i Filipino community meet at Kilohana Plantation for a courtesy visit on Aug. 10, 2024.
Beth Amaro (back right), Member Services and Communications Manager at KIUC, gives the Laoag delegation a brief overview of the utility cooperative on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024
 The Laoag City delegation takes a tour of the KIUC Anahola Solar Farm on Aug. 10, 2024.
The Laoag City delegation is briefed by Tommy Noyes (left) with the Friends of Kamalani Playground and Lydgate Park on the history of Lydgate Beach Park, Ke Ala Hele Makālae, and the partnership between the County of Kaua‘i and the Friends of Kamalani.
Joel Guy (right), Executive Director of the Hanalei Initiative, explains visitor mitigation and the shuttle system to the Laoag delegation and staff of the Mayor’s Office and Office of Economic Development at Hā‘ena State Park on Aug. 10, 2024.
Presley Wann (right), Executive Director of Hui Maka‘ainana o Makana, takes the Laoag delegation through the lo‘i at Hā‘ena State Park on Aug. 10, 2024.
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