HONOLULU – Gov. Linda Lingle announced today she will lead an official Hawaii delegation to China from June 4 to 15 to build and expand tourism, investment, trade, energy and education opportunities for Hawaii. A key portion of the trip will focus on “Hawaii Week” at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
The Governor’s mission, her fourth to China to promote Hawaii, will cover Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming and Beijing. The Governor will also visit Japan (June 16 to 19) to meet with tourism partners in Tokyo.
“This trip to China is another important component in our ongoing effort to expand long-term economic development and business opportunities for Hawai‘i in the emerging China market,” said Lingle. “It is vital that our state continue to build and strengthen relationships in Asia, especially China, that will position Hawaii businesses and residents to capitalize on future economic and investment opportunities and strengthen our cultural and educational partnerships.”
In Shanghai (June 5-9), Lingle will join representatives and participants from the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the visitor industry and entertainers from Hawaii at the “Hawaii Week” celebration to take place in the United States Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. During the Expo’s “Hawaii Week,” Lingle will participate in various functions planned by HTA including news conferences and media interviews, as well as an Aloha Night dinner reception, which will be attended by Chinese government officials, senior travel trade partners, major tour wholesalers, airline partners, and key media. The Shanghai Expo is expected to attract more than 70 million visitors, 86 percent of whom will come from domestic China.
While in Shanghai, Governor Lingle will deliver a keynote address at an American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai Distinguished Speakers Luncheon about the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative. She will also participate in seminars on investing in Hawaii, and studying at Hawaii’s colleges and universities.
Hawaii Department of Agriculture officials will also be in Shanghai to promote the sale of Hawai‘i agricultural products in China. They will be joined by officials from the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources as well as the agriculture industry, including representatives from the Hawai‘i Export Nursery Association and the Hawaii Tropical Flowers Council. The Hawaii Agriculture team will meet with Chinese officials in both Shanghai and Beijing.
In Guangzhou, Guangdong Province (June 10-11), Lingle will be joined by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i’s 2010 Narcissus Queen Tour to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Sister-State-Province relationship between the State of Hawai‘i and the Province of Guangdong. Lingle and Guangdong Province Governor Huang Huahua will also discuss the next 25 years of trade, investment and education opportunities. A large proportion of Hawai‘i’s ethnic Chinese citizens trace their heritage to Guangdong Province, now known as China’s foreign trade powerhouse, accounting for almost one-quarter of China’s exports to the world.
Lingle will visit Kunming in Yunnan Province (June 12-13) where she will be welcomed by Yunnan Governor Qin Guangrong. Yunnan, one of China’s most environmentally and culturally diverse provinces, is located at the foot of the Himalayan Mountains and is working to become China’s “Sustainable Province.” Governor Qin and Governor Lingle will discuss a relationship centered on clean and renewable energy development. The Chinese Chamber of Hawai‘i and the Narcissus Queen Tour will also be in Yunnan Province.
Lingle will have two days of official meetings in Beijing (June 14-15). She will meet with Chairman Shao Qiwei of the China National Tourism Administration on opportunities for increased Chinese travel to Hawai‘i. This will be Governor Lingle’s ninth meeting with Chairman Shao in seven years.
Official meetings are also scheduled with the China Ministry of Commerce (MOC), regarding “Hawai‘i House,” a Hawai‘i products import initiative by the MOC. She will also promote investing and studying in Hawai‘i as a part of several seminars that are scheduled.
Lingle invites those from Hawaii interested in more information about this mission to China, including the possibility of participating in some of the events and activities, to contact the following:
“Hawai‘i Week” at the Shanghai Expo, Shanghai, please contact the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority at 808-973-2252.
Non-“Hawai‘i Week” events and activities in Shanghai and about the visit to Guangzhou, Kunming and Beijing, please contact the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism at 808-586-2355.
Lingle will stop in Tokyo to meet with travel industry partners and Japan Association of Travel Agents before returning home.
Delegation and Expenses
Delegation to China
The following individuals will participate in different segments of the China trip, with the majority attending the Hawai‘i Week activities in Shanghai:
- Governor Linda Lingle
- House Speaker Calvin Say, representing the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives (Shanghai only)
- Senator Donna Mercado Kim, representing the Hawai‘i State Senate (Shanghai only)
- Ted Liu, director, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
- Mike McCartney, president and CEO, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) (Shanghai only)
- Kelvin Bloom, chair, HTA (Shanghai only)
- David Uchiyama, vice president brand management, HTA (Shanghai only)
- Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i 2010 Narcissus Queen Tour (Guangzhou, Kunming and Beijing only)
- Duane Okamoto, deputy director, Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture
- Lyle Wong, plant industry division administrator, Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture
- University of Hawai‘i, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
- Hawai‘i Export Nursery Association
- Hawai‘i Tropical Flower Council
- Linda Smith, senior policy advisor
- Major General Robert Lee, state adjutant general (traveling to China/Asia for other business)
Delegation to Japan
- Governor Lingle
- Mike McCartney, president and CEO, HTA
- Marsha Wienert, state tourism liaison
- Brennon Morioka, director, Department of Transportation
Governor Lingle’s expenses, including various event-related expenses in China, will be paid for through a combination of funding sources, including the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Governor’s Office and Executive Branch departmental budgets.
Funding for the Hawaii agricultural team is from a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service.
Expenses for HTA officials and Hawaii legislators for Hawai‘i Week at the Shanghai Expo will be paid for by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Linda Smith will be paying her own expenses with personal funds.
Non-government agencies and individuals will cover their own expense.
Report by Ted Liu, Director, DBEDT