[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15044-15045]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP

 Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize the 
50th anniversary of the sister city relationship between the city and 
county of Honolulu and the city of Hiroshima.
  Mr. President, 1959 was an eventful and significant year in history. 
Not only was Hawaii admitted into the Union as the 50th State, but on 
May 19, 1959, the city and county of Honolulu Council passed a 
resolution inviting the city of Hiroshima into a sister city agreement. 
Established by former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, the ``People to 
People'' program was to promote peace and mutual understanding between 
citizens of different countries. Many of Hawaii's residents were of 
Japanese ancestry or were originally from Hiroshima. With this in mind, 
the Honolulu Council thought a relationship between Honolulu and 
Hiroshima would be a fitting one, brought together through similarities 
and a resonance of cultural familiarity. This ``sister city'' agreement 
holds special significance for me and my family, as I was born in 
Honolulu and my maternal grandparents were from the Hiroshima 
Prefecture.
  Fifty years later, this relationship, as well as the overall United 
States--Japan relationship, has formed into an enduring partnership of 
nations. This valued alliance has matured through

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the years, and it is my privilege to serve as honorary chairman of the 
50th anniversary committee for the sister city relationship. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognition of this momentous 
occasion.

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