Hawaii Gov. David Ige has traveled to Japan to promote sustainable tourism, participate in an education roundtable, and attend a sister-state fifth anniversary reception.
According to a release from his office, Ige first visited Hokkaido and Okinawa Prefecture. In Okinawa, Ige met with Gov. Denny Tamaki, attended the Hawaii-Okinawa Energy Taskforce meeting and signed a Hawaii-Okinawa Sister Library Agreement. He also took part in the Uchinanchu Festival.
During a visit to Tokyo, Ige is scheduled to attend the U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference. It’s the first in-person conference since 2019, and among the topics to be discussed are education, technology and business issues.
Ige is also a panelist for a session regarding leveraging subnational action to solve global challenges. Other engagements in Tokyo, according to the release, include meetings with Japan Airlines executives, the Japan Association of Travel Agents, the Japan-Hawaiʻi Legislative Friendship Association and Ryota Takeda, a member of the House of Representatives.
Ige is scheduled to return to Honolulu on Nov. 3. Lt. Gov. Josh Green will serve as acting governor while Ige is gone.