HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green finished up his week-long trip to Japan, where he strengthen ties with the country and signed a clean energy memoranda.
During his trip, Green met with leaders from various businesses in Tokyo such as NEC Corporation, JERA Co. Inc. and the Tomiuri Shimbun Group, where they discussed expanding technological, energy and tourism opportunities.
With JERA Co. Inc., Green signed a Strategic Partnering Agreement to partner the company with the state in order to advance clean energy initiatives. JERA is the largest power producer in Japan and has committed to elimination carbon dioxide emissions from their operations by 2050.
Green then traveled to Okinawa, where he met with Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki and signed a five-year Memorandum of Cooperation and Clean Energy, which renewed a 2010 partnership between the two sets of islands.
“Hawaiʻi and Okinawa share more than history, we share purpose,” Green said. “Together, we’re proving that island communities can lead the world in clean energy and resilience, while honoring the cultural ties that bind us.”
Green traveled with a delegation from Hawaiʻi, which included local leaders such as Senate President Ronald Kouchi, Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama, Sens. Glenn Wakai, Chris Lee and Michelle Kidani, as well as Reps. Gregg Takayama, Dee Morikawa and Kyle Yamashita.
Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director James Kunane Tokioka and Hawaiʻi State Energy Office Director Mark Glick also joined the delegation.
The delegation’s visit marked the 40th anniversary of the Hawaiʻi-Okinawa sister-state relationship and 125th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to the Hawaiian islands.
“Japan remains one of Hawaiʻi’s most important partners — in energy, commerce, education and people-to-people exchange,” Green said. “This mission reaffirms our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability and friendship that extends far beyond the Pacific.”
Green will return to Honolulu on Oct. 15 following a stop in San Francisco.
