NEW PLAQUE COMMEMORATES SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP

(Photos and Story By: Wendy OSHER © 2009)

Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares joined officials from Taiwan’s Ping Tung Province today in commemorating the town’s 27^th year as a Sister City of Maui County. A plaque was unveiled at the Sun Yat Sen Park in Kula marking the occasion. The sister city partnership was formed in March of 1982.

The group comes off of another visit late last year when members of the delegation visited the Maui County Fair. “We believe strongly in perpetuating the traditions of our sister cities-because they reflect the cultural make up that we have here,” said Deidre Tegarden, Coordinator for the County of Maui Office of Economic Development.

“Sister city relationships are very important at any time, but at this particular time when the world, and even us, are having economic hard times, keeping these relationships going, we can find ways to help each other,” said Mayor Tavares.

“And I think that’s what these sister cities are about-is not just promoting understanding of each other’s cultures and the many cultures around the world-but also to find ways to help each other in economic ways,” said Tavares.

The main industries of Ping Tung mirror those of Maui County including tourism, agriculture, renewable energy and technology.

Ping Tung County is located in the southernmost part of Taiwan and governs 33 cities and towns, with a total population of about 900,000. Ping Tung City itself has a population of just over 215,000. Noted director Ang Lee of “Brokeback Mountain” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” is from Ping Tung.

Members of the Ping Tung delegation include Alexander Chang, Elizabeth Hsu, Douglas Chang, Catherine Chang, J.C. Chang, Delia Lai, Chiu Yi Hua, and Hung Cheng-Sheng.