Earlier this week, Governor Ige and First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige welcomed Governor of Hiroshima, Japan, Hidehiko Yuzaki, and his delegation to the Hawaiʻi State Library.

Gov. Yuzaki’s visit complimented Gov. and Mrs. Ige’s visit to Hiroshima this August, where the two governors signed a Sister State Library Agreement at the Hiroshima Prefectural Library.

The gathering took place in the Edna Allan Children’s Library, where books exchanged between Hiroshima and Hawaiʻi were on display. The books given to Hiroshima by Mrs. Ige included “Leilani Blessed and Grateful” by ʻIolani School teachers Greg Bowman and Alan Suemori, illustrated by Jamie Tablason, and “Snow Angel, Sand Angel” by author, poet and educator Lois-Ann Yamanaka, illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky.

The Hawaiʻi State Library also contains a collection of local high school yearbooks. Aldrich showed the governors a Punahou yearbook with former President Barack Obama’s photo and a Pearl City yearbook with Gov. Ige’s photo.

The visiting Hiroshima library staff were also taken on tours of the Nānākuli and Waipahu public libraries.

In a press release Governor Ige said, “It was an honor to welcome Governor Yuzaki as we continue strengthening the bonds between the State of Hawaiʻi and Hiroshima Prefecture,” said Gov. Ige. “Our Sister State Library Agreement is one of the many ways we are building a strong future of collaboration and mutual understanding.”

 

Photo Credit: Office of Governor Ige