Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 8, 1 August 2009 — Japanese imperial couple visits Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Japanese imperial couple visits Hawaiʻi

Stopover continues ties cemented by Kalākaua By ī. Ilihia Giunsun Publicatiūns Editur Emperor Akihito and Empress Miehiko of lapan visited Hawai'i in Iuly, continuing a longstanding relationship between Hawai'i and lapan that dates back to the days of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The emperor and empress stopped in Hawai'i Iuly 14 to 16 en route to lapan after almost two weeks abroad. The eouple spent two days on O'ahu and flew to Hawai'i Island on the last day of their visit. On Hawai'i Island, the imperial eouple was welcomed at the Kona International Airport by Hawai'i County Mayor Billy Kenoi and his family, dignitaries from loeal Japanese groups, and about 60 keiki from Kona, Ka'ū, Puna, Hilo, Hāmākua and Kohala led by Kekuhi Keali'ikanaka'oleohaililani and Taupōuri Tangarō.

Keali'ikanaka'oleohaililani also performed a chant written especially for the occasion. Her grandmother, Edith Kanaka'ole, welcomed Akihito's father, the late Emperor Hirohito, to Hawai'i in a similar fashion during a 1975 visit. 0'ahu's itinerary included a visit to Kapi'olani Park in Waikīkī, a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, a state luneheon with Gov. Linda Lingle and a dinner eommemorating the 50th anniversary of the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship, established to promote understanding between Japan and the United States. At Kapi'olani Park, the royal eouple visited a rainbow shower tree that Akihito had planted as a crown prince in 1960 to conunemorate 100 years of Japan-U.S. relations. It was the couple's only public appearance, and hundreds gathered to catch a glimpse of the imperial eouple. On Hawai'i, the royal eouple had a whirlwind day before jetting home

to Japan. From the airport, they proceeded to a meeting at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in South Kohala, where they were greeted by 130 well-wishers. From there, the party traveled to Waimea's Parker Ranch for a private reception hosted by the ambassador and consul general of Japan. At Pu'u'ōpelu, the home of former Parker Ranch owner Richard Smart, the emperor and empress enjoyed a demonstration of paniolo prowess. Japanese paniolo played important roles at Parker Ranch since the early days, and many married into Hawaiian families. At the Kona airport for their departure, the imperial eouple was entertained by Kohala's Nā Lei O Kaholokū and the Lim family. One of the songs performed was "I Makana Na'u Ia Aloha," written by King Kalākaua while visiting Japan in 1881. "This is a tremendous honor to be able to greet the emperor and empress and show them the

aloha and warmth of the Island of Hawai'i," said Kenoi, the island's mayor. "We are so pleased and humbled to be part of the imperial visit to Hawai'i." Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's visit to the Islands eontinued a long relationship between Hawai'i and Japan. Emperor Meiji sent representatives around the world during his rule in the late 1800s, and Hawai'i was one of their stops. The relationship was cemented by Kalākaua's 1881 visit, when he formed a friendship with Emperor Meiji - Emperor Akihito's greatgrandfather. The first Japanese that eame to Hawai'i to work on sugar plantations arrived in 1885, and by the time of the annexation 13 years later, Japanese comprised about one-fifth of the population of Hawai'i, said Gay Satsuma, associate director of the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Satsuma is studying the role of Japanese in Hawai'i in the annexation of Hawai'i to the United States. She said that the large population of Japanese immigrants - about

24,000 at the time of annexation -lent urgency to the nation's desire to elaim Hawai'i for its own. "Relations between Japan and Hawai'i were close because of Kalākaua's relationship, as well as the thousands of Japanese immigrants in Hawai'i," Satsuma said. ■

Emperor Akihito, right, and Empress AAiehiko of Japan wave to a crowd gathered at Kona lnternational Airport to weleome them to Hawai'i. The eouple is wearing lei haku presented by Hawai'i County Mayor Billy Kenoi. - Photo: ī. Ilihia Gionson