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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, November 22, 2003

Hawai'i, Ehime strengthen ties

Associated Press

Recalling a tragedy at sea almost three years ago that forever linked Hawai'i and Japan's Ehime prefecture, governors from both regions yesterday signed an agreement aimed at building better educational, social and cultural relations between the two.

The sister state-prefecture agreement, as authorized by a resolution passed by the Legislature, was signed by Hawai'i Gov. Linda Lingle and Ehime Gov. Moriyuki Kato at a ceremony attended by a delegation from Ehime.

Ehime prefecture is the home of the Uwajima Fisheries High School, whose training ship Ehime Maru was rammed and sunk by a Hawai'i-based Navy submarine on Feb. 9, 2001. Nine students and teachers aboard the training vessel were killed in the accident off O'ahu.

"It was indeed a sad incident, but the people of Hawaii showed us such warm support," Kato said through a translator. "The people of Ehime will never forget the kind support that you showed them."