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Presidential delegation from Reunion Island visits Big Island

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By Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

A presidential delegation from Reunion Island visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Thursday (Oct 12) for an informational tour. Regional President Robert Didier, Vice President Jean-Francois Sita, Public Information Officer Corinne Peyron-Beaulieu and Film Commissioner Edy Payet are on the Big Island talking to government and park officials regarding similar challenges faced by the island  regarding the economy and preservation of large island areas.

Reunion Island is a region of France, located in the Indian Ocean, is heavily dependent upon tourism as a primary industry, an active volcano like the Big Island and has a large portion of the island designated as a United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site for protection and preservation. President Didier spoke about the Reunion Island working to shift to a greener, more independent energy future which includes a project to use Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion like the technology developed in Kona at NELHA. Currently Reunion Island is heavily dependent upon importing coal as a fuel source.

President Didier said when he got to Hawaii he felt like he was at home due to the very similar climate and hoped to continue communications with officials on the Big Island to exchange ideas and information in the future. Assisting with the delegation were Alain and Marie Gerente who are residents of both Reunion Island and the Big Island.

One Response to “Presidential delegation from Reunion Island visits Big Island”

  1. anthony says:

    Reunion is not a country, it’s a french department. Didier Robert is not its president (Sarkozy is), but its representant at the French Assembly!(French house of representative).

    I am from Reunion and lives in San Francisco!

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