Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce | 19 Over the past two decades, the Sister Chamber relationship has grown well beyond a signed agreement. The Hatsukaichi Chamber has consistently sent a delegation to West Hawaiʻi to participate in the annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, creating a sustained opportunity for cultural exchange and connection. When these visits take place, the Kona-Kohala Chamber typically convenes meetings that bring together business and community leaders, reinforcing relationships and strengthening understanding between our communities. These efforts are often carried out in collaboration with valued partners, including the Kona Japanese Civic Association, KTA Super Stores, and Kona Hiroshima Kenjin Kai, demonstrating how strong relationships extend beyond the organization and enrich the broader community. The Kona-Kohala Chamber extends a special Mahalo to past KKCC Board Chairs Dale Suezaki and Ross Wilson, Jr. for their leadership and long-standing involvement in strengthening cultural and community ties with our friends from Hatsukaichi. Dale and Ross are leading the KKCC Sister Chamber Committee to plan activities for the 20th anniversary in the fall of 2026. The Sister Chamber relationship stands as a reminder that meaningful partnerships do not happen by chance. They are built over time through consistency, care, and a shared commitment to connection—values that continue to guide the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce and its work in the community. In 2024, Kona-Kohala Chamber Past Board Chairs Dale Suezaki (left) and Ross Wilson, Jr. (right) represented the Chamber during the Sister City ceremony between Hatsukaichi and Hawaiʻi County. They are pictured at the Welcome Reception in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, with Hiroshima Prefecture Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki (center). In 2016, the Hatsukaichi and Kona-Kohala Chambers marked the 10th Anniversary of their Sister Chamber relationship with a series of commemorative activities, including participation in the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival’s Lantern Parade in Kailua Village. Commemorating our Sister Chamber Anniversary
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