MEDIA RELEASE

Mayor Billy Kenoi is in Taipei, Republic of China this week with eight other mayors from across the nation in an effort to strengthen and promote business, agricultural, educational and cultural ties with Taiwan.

The government of Taiwan organized the 2013 U.S. Municipal Mayor Delegation to Taiwan from Sept. 1-7, and selected mayors from Hawaii, California, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, Connecticut, Wyoming and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to participate. The Republic of China is hosting the mayors and providing air and hotel accommodations.

The County of Hawaii established a sister-city relationship with the County of Haulian in Taiwan in 1971, and former Mayor Shen-Shan Hsieh of the County of Haulian led a delegation to the County of Hawaii in 2007.

Taiwan was recently added to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program to encourage travel between the two nations, and China Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines began direct flights between Taipei and Honolulu this year.

Managing Director Wally Lau is serving as acting mayor until Kenoi returns Friday, Sept. 6.