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40th Anniversary of HJCC and Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce and Industry - "Sister Chamber" Relationship
Article by: Myles Shibata (Chair of the Board) During the week of April 12 - 16, members of the Hiroshima Chamber of commerce and Industry were welcomed by members of HJCC as they faced a full schedule of events to commemorate and celebrate our 40th year anniversary. The Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce and Industry has over 9.000 members representing major industry and business leaders in the prefecture. Twenty top executives and their wives expressed deep appreciation for our long-standing sister Chamber relationship. Upon arrival, they were hosted to a lunch FORUM by Scott Seu, President/CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., and featured Shelee Kimura, President/CEO of Hawaiian Electric and Ann Teranishi, President/CEO of American Savings Bank, who are all HJCC corporate members. Hiroshima has a similar Carbon Neutral goal (theirs being by 2050). They expressed keen interest to learn more about HEI/HECO sponsored projects and innovation. They also appreciated insights into the successes of American Savings Bank, the State's third largest. THANK YOU... Scott Seu, Shelee Kimura and Ann Teranishi!
A special dinner reception was held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village to foster fellowship and to continue business exchange conversations. A formal proclamation was signed to strengthen and perpetuate our sister chamber relationship.
HJCC Chair of the Board Shibata and Hiroshima CC&I Chair of the Board Ikeda. Chair Ikeda is the Chairman of the Hirogin Holdings Hiroshima Bank) and is also on the planning committee of the G7 Summit of global leaders, that Hiroshima is hosting in late May.
Deep appreciation to all of the Past HJCC Chairs and the HJCC Board Members who attended dinner and who also provided our Hiroshima Chamber members with HJCC style of exceptional hospitality throughout their stay. THANK YOU.
Hiroshima Chamber members also paid a visit to the recently repainted Torii Gate. The Hiroshima Chamber, together with the Hiroshima Prefecture Government constructed, shipped and donated the Torii replica as a gift to the City of Honolulu in 2002 to commemorate HJCC's 100th Anniversary, which stands at the Gateway to Moiliili. It represents a cultural symbol of Japan/Hawaii mutual and perpetual relations. Myles Shibata |
