Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell will be returning from his diplomatic and trade mission in Japan two days early because of Hurricane Iselle, which is projected to hit the Hawaiian islands as a tropical storm later this week.

Caldwell is scheduled to arrive back in Honolulu on Wednesday, according to a press release from the mayor’s office.

He will continue with his scheduled activities today (Tuesday).

Kirk Caldwell, 2012

Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat

At 1 p.m., he will participate in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony, marking the anniversary of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing, according to the mayor’s office. Caldwell will present a wreath on behalf of the people of Honolulu. The ceremony is being televised live on PBS Hawaii and NHK World, available at this link.

Hiroshima holds the ceremony annually to “recognize the victims of the atomic bombs and to pray for the realization of lasting world peace,” according to the press release. Participants include families of the deceased.

Caldwell has also traveled to Nagaoka and Chigasaki during his trip, which began last week.

The following itinerary was provided by the mayor’s office in Japan time, which is a day ahead of Hawaii:

Nagaoka

“The target of an American air raid on August 1, 1945, Nagaoka is the only city in Niigata prefecture to have directly experienced the destruction of World War II. Approximately 163,500 incendiary bombs were dropped, burning out about 80 percent of the urban area and killing some 1,470 residents, including about 300 school children.” – City of Nagaoka webpage

Saturday, August 2

• Train travel to Nagaoka
• Meeting with Nagaoka Mayor Tamio Mori.
  • Mayor Mori at Honolulu Festival (2011 interview)
  • Nagaoka Mayor Honors Fallen Heroes at Pearl Harbor (2008 Navy press release)
• Meeting of Committee on the Nagaoka-Honolulu Commemorative Project for Japan-U.S.A. Friendship.  Mayor Caldwell is co-chair. 
• 11:45 a.m. – Press conference announcing the results of committee meeting. Mayors to exchange gifts. Nagaoka Grand Hotel.
• 1:30 p.m. – Sister City Friendship Forum at Nagaoka City Hall.  Mayor Caldwell will participate in panel with Mayor Mori and Japan-American Society of Hawaii President Ed Hawkins. 
• 7 p.m. – Nagaoka Grand Fireworks Show attended by 500,000 local residents.  At the beginning of the show, Mayor Mori will speak followed by two shots of white chrysanthemum fireworks in memory of Nagaoka air-raid victims.  Next Mayor Caldwell will speak followed by two shots of white chrysanthemums presented by the City & County of Honolulu.  Finally, there will be one shot of fireworks, a weeping willow, sponsored by both of our cities.

Sunday, August 3

• Visits to Umataka Jomon Ancient Pottery Museum and Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto Memorial Museum. 
• 9 a.m. – Presentation of flowers to the Statue of Peace at Peace Forest Memorial Park in Nagaoka.  Media availability. 
• 11 a.m. – Public parade.  Ote Street, Nagaoka. 
• Travel to Chigasaki.

Chigasaki

“Chigasaki is…famous for being the center of Japanese Hawaiian culture with many tropical and Hawaiian stores located mainly in the southern side of the town. Fridays in Chigasaki was called ‘Aloha Friday’ in which consumers were able to have discounts in many stores and taxis.” – Wikipedia

Sunday, August 3 (continued)

• 6:20 p.m. – Meeting with Mayor Nobuaki Hattori at Chigasaki City Hall.  Private meeting with mayor followed by formal gift presentation and speech to 200 Chigasaki citizens.  Media availability. 
• 7:15 p.m. – Dinner with Chigasaki city councilmembers, chamber of commerce members, school officials, and mayor. 

Monday, August 4

• Visits to local businesses Toto Ltd and Toho Titanium Co. Ltd., Jokenzi family temple, museum of history, and surf shop.
• 1 p.m. – Luncheon with mayor, council chair, business owners and Chigaski citizens.  Mayor Caldwell to speak.
• Travel to Hiroshima.

Hiroshima

“In August 1945, the city of Hiroshima was destroyed instantaneously with the dropping of the atomic bomb. Neighboring cities also suffered damage as a result of the war. Afterwards, through the ceaseless efforts of Hiroshima citizens, the region made an impressive recovery and is now continuing to develop as a center of government, economics, and culture in the Chugoku-Shikoku Region.” – Hiroshima Prefecture tourism website

Tuesday, August 5

• Visit to Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art.
• 2 p.m. – Honorary Citizen Ceremony with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui. Presentation of medal, certificate, and ceremonial exchange of gifts.
• 4 p.m. – Visit to Peace Memorial Museum with Yasuyoshi Komizo, Secretary General for Mayors for Peace.
• 5:30 p.m. – Meeting with atomic bomb survivor. 
• 6:30 p.m. – Formal dinner reception hosted by City of Hiroshima with mayor, deputies, and ambassadors.

Wednesday, August 6

• 8 a.m. – Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony marking the exact anniversary of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. 
  • Mayor Caldwell will participate in the ceremony, laying a wreath along with two other Hiroshima sister-city representatives: Montreal, Canada Mayor David Coderre and Volgograd, Russia Councilmember Taev. 
  • Live television coverage: In Hawaii the ceremony will be seen live on Aug. 5 at 1 p.m. on PBS Hawaii (over-the-air channel 11.1, Oceanic channels 10, 90 and 1010, Hawaiian Telcom channels 11 and 1011), NHK World (Oceanic Cable channels 682 and 1682), or live Internet streaming.
• Visit to Otafuku Sauce Company factory and Asa Zoo (to discuss potential animal transfer to Honolulu Zoo, to be announced). 
• 6 p.m. – Sister Cities Dinner Reception hosted by Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui.  Mayor Caldwell will be joined by fellow Hiroshima sister city mayor from Montreal, Canada Denis Coderre.