WAILUKU - Maui County formalized a sister-city agreement with Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, in South Korea on Friday, in what officials said would go beyond the usual "friendly handshake" and become a more serious international relationship.
"They want to take it to the next level," said Mayor Alan Arakawa in explaining the agreement to Maui County Council members Wednesday.
Arakawa said a county delegation visited the city on a tour of Asia last year and found many similarities with Maui County, including an interest in growing its high-technology, agricultural and tourism sectors. Officials in Goyang City were eager to work together to exchange ideas for economic development, Arakawa said.
While many previous sister-city relationships have been "more casual," Arakawa said officials in both countries want to foster business, travel and intellectual connections. South Korea is also seen as having huge potential as a source of future visitors to Hawaii, he noted.
"We can both do very well in this relationship," he said.
The County Council voted unanimously Friday to approve the agreement.
A delegation from Goyang City arrived on Maui on Thursday for a four-day visit that would include a signing ceremony for the sister-city agreement, visits to a local nonprofit and flower farm and a whale watch tour.
County Office of Economic Development Administrator Teena Rasmussen said she was "thrilled" to formalize the county's relationship with Goyang City.
"We feel it's very strategic for Maui County," she said. "Even though they're a much bigger city than we are, we feel we have some very similar goals and initiatives that we're going to be able to work together on."
Arakawa said he and other county officials were astonished by how technologically advanced the city was. Goyang City is using innovative techniques in agriculture and also is pioneering renewable energy programs, he said.
"Many of the things in their community are models we can look to and learn from," he said.
The program also is an opportunity to strengthen ties with Asia, he said.
"Many of the tourists in the future may be coming from this region," he said.
Council members expressed strong support for the plan and said the county should take similar advantage of its other sister-city relationships.
"We need to pursue this further - more than a friendly handshake," said Council Member Don Couch.
"This is a great opportunity for us to have a true exchange of ideas," said Council Member Mike White.
* Ilima Loomis can be reached at iloomis@mauinews.com.
