HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A sold-out crowd of more than 650 business and community leaders packed the Sheraton Waikiki today for the U.S.–Japan Council’s annual conference public symposium.
Its first time back in the islands in more than a decade. Organizers say the turnout, including a 100-person delegation from Japan, highlights Hawaii’s unique place connecting the two nations.
U.S.–Japan Council President & CEO Audrey Yamamoto called the symposium the centerpiece of conference week and a prime venue to “cultivate and connect leaders” across both countries on key issues such as economic security, sustainability and women’s leadership.
Yamamoto said Hawaii’s role as a cultural and economic bridge makes it a strategic setting for the discussions—especially as Honolulu and Hiroshima mark their sister-city ties amid the 80th year since World War II ended.
Host committee co-chair Tyler Tokioka noted it’s the first Hawaii-based conference in roughly 11 years and one of the largest Japan delegations to attend a US gathering of the council. He also framed the week as a celebration of the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, a council founder with deep Hawaii roots.
Beyond the mainstage panels, attendees are joining networking dinners across Honolulu and off-site excursions—from cultural sites on Oahu to astronomy and small-business visits on the Big Island—meant to deepen people-to-people ties the council was built on.
Prospective members can connect with the local Hawaii network and learn more about membership through the U.S.–Japan Council website and regional events hosted throughout the year.
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