Halloween was "Back on Front" last week Monday and went off without a hitch, just what Mayor planned for.  Much Mahalos to the Lahaina Action Town Committee and the Office of Economic Development for all their hard work and help.

Here's Mayor Arakawa with wife Ann waiting for the start of the Keiki Parade on Front Street. Bo Climaldi in the blonde wig was their driver.



On November 2nd, a press conference was held to introduce the "Maui Friday Town Parties".  Mayor unveiled the logo for each of the towns holding a Friday Town Party.  First Friday in Wailuku, Second Friday in Lahaina, Third Friday in Makawao, and Fourth Friday in Paia.



On November 3rd, Mayor Arakawa along with some Council Members attended the groundbreaking of the Kehalani Village Center in Wailuku.  Expect to see a Foodland, Longs, McDonald's and Ruby Tuesday's at the center in the near future.



Then on Friday November 4th, Mayor Arakawa proclaimed "Maui Food Bank Goes Green Day".  It was fitting because on the roof of the Maui Food Bank recently completed installing over 326 photovoltaic panels, producing over 470kw of power for the Maui Food Bank. Maui Food Bank's Executive Director Richard Yust and Chairman of the Board Mark Walker and Governor's Liaison Deidre Tegarden joins Mayor Arakawa for a photo.



Later that morning, it was off to Kamaole Beach Park I to proclaim Arbor Day in Maui County and dedicate the planting of 3 new trees in the park.




UPDATE!!!! We've got some APEC pictures!!!




That's our own Teena Rasmussen of the County Office of Economic Development and Maui Hotel & Lodging Association's Carol Reimann at Maui's booth. Looks great! Teena says the coconut macaroons from the Maui Macaroons company are a big hit. You can see them in the glass jar next to her.

Here's another view of the APEC booth, very colorful and comfortable looking.

 

Here Teena gets interviewed by Olelo, Oahu's version of Akaku. Great job Teena!

UPDATE:  Dr. Sun Yat-sen Statue Dedication (November 14, 2011)

Mayor Arakawa presents a proclamation to the family of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and to Minister Wu Ying-yih of the Republic of China in Taiwan (light brown aloha shirt) to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, which marks the founding of Modern China and to celebrate the memory and legacy of Dr. Sun Yat-sen.



Here's a look at the brand new bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen at the Sun Yat Sen Park in Keokea. The statue overlooks the ranch land where he lived with his brother Sun Mei from 1895 to 1911. The statue was donated to the County by the Sun Yat-sen Foundation for Peace and Education.




In the photo below Mayor Alan Arakawa shakes hands with Lily Sun, grand-daughter of Sun Yat-sen. In between Mayor Arakawa and Lily is Minister Wu Yink-yih of the Republic of China in Taiwan. Also featured in the photo on the right of Lily is Charles Wong, great-grandson of Sun Yat-sen. Both Lily and Charles flew over from Oahu for the ceremony. The group is standing in front of the Kwock Hing Society Hall in Kula. It was erected in 1907 and was the first two story structure in Kula.



The new bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen at Kepaniwai Park. (L-R) Governor's Liaison, Deidre Tegarden, MEDB President Jeanne Skog, Mr. Henry Lau, Mayor Arakawa, Lily Sun, Grand Daughter of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Minister Wu from Taiwan and Charles Wong, Great-grandson of Dr. Sun Yat Sen.  The bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, two granite stone lions and a granite stone Chinese gate, all donated by the Sun Yat-sen Foundation for Peace and Education.



UPDATE:  Seogu Sister Cities Relationship Signing (Nov 15, 2011)

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa and Seo-gu Mayor Hwan-yong Park exchanged gifts and letters of intent as they solidified their sister-city relationship during a ceremony today.



The letter signing ceremony was the culmination of a trip that began in July, when Mayor Arakawa, Council Chair Danny Mateo and a small delegation from the County traveled to Seo-gu to see if Mayor Park was interested in establishing a sister-city relationship.




(L-R) Council Chair Danny Mateo, Mayor Arakawa, Mayor Hwan-yong Park, and Seo-gu Council Vice Chair Ko Kyung Keun.

Chair Mateo exchanges pins with Seo-gu Council Vice Chairman Ko.

"As President Obama stated during his opening remarks at APEC, no region will do more to shape our long-term economic future than the Asia/Pacific region," said Mayor Arakawa. "Hawaii will play a major role in this new economic future and Maui County must be ready to take advantage of that opportunity."

UPDATE:  Maui Fire Department Badge Pinning Ceremony (November 15, 2011)

The Maui Fire Department promoted one of its captains to Battalion Chief yesterday November 15, 2011 at the Kahului Fire Station.

Louis Romero has been with the department for 21 years and is currently assigned to the Kahului Fire Station, where he works out of the Hazardous Materials & Special Training Division.

(L-R) Deputy Fire Chief Robert Shimada, Fire Chief Jeff Murray, Caron Romero (Wife of Louis Romero), Battalion Chief Louis Romero, and Mayor Arakawa

Romero is also the coordinator of MFD’s grants team and has helped the department obtain an estimated $11 million over the last 9 years. These grant funds helped buy needed equipment such as fire trucks and Molokai’s new rescue boat.

Romero is also a member of the newly formed, multi-agency All Hazards Incident Management Team, which will provide support during natural or man-made disaster events. He has been married to his wife Caron Romero for the last 20 years and has four children; Kawehi, Kamaha’o, Kaualena and Kalehua.

“The last 21 years has been very rewarding for me,” Romero said, “I enjoy serving my community.”

UPDATE:  Groundbreaking for the new Maui Lani Stake Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (November 17, 2011)



Mayor Arakawa speaking at the groundbreaking of the new Maui Lani Stake Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.



Groundbreaking of the new Maui Lani Stake Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located in the Maui Lani Subdivision at the intersection of Kuikahi Drive and Maui Lani Parkway. Mayor Arakawa breaks ground with Council Member Bob Carroll and church leaders.