HONOLULU – The Mayor of Hiroshima, the Honorable Tadatoshi Akiba, will commemorate 50 years of the sister-city relationship between Hiroshima and Honolulu at a special luncheon presentation today.

In addition to the mayor’s presentation, there will be Japanese musical entertainment and a special photo exhibit centering on Sadako Sasaki, the young Hiroshima atomic bombing victim who famously folded 1,000 cranes for peace before she died from radiation-induced leukemia.

The presentation will begin at noon at the East-West Center’s Hawai‘i Imin International Conference Center (Jefferson Hall, 1777 East-West Road).

Limited parking is available on the grass area between Imin Center and Lincoln Hall. Hourly parking is also available on the University of Hawaii Manoa campus.

The event is sponsored by The East-West Center, City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Japan America Society of Hawaii, Hiroshima Hawaii Sister State Committee, Honolulu Hiroshima Kenjin Kai, Wahiawa Waialua Hiroshima Kenjin Kai, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, United Japanese Society of Hawaii, University of Hawai‘i — Center for Japanese Studies, Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, and the Friends of the East-West Center.

Other events this week organized by the 50th Anniversary Honolulu-Hiroshima Sister-City Committee include a photo exhibit and cultural booths at Windward Mall through tomorrow; a cultural performance at Ala Moana Center at 6 p.m. today; and a special dinner at Waialae Country Club today at 6 p.m.

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann will lead a delegation to Hiroshima this November in furtherance of the cities’ relationship, and will speak at a business seminar to be held by the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce and the Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s very important for us to continue and strengthen this important relationship with the people of Hiroshima,” Hannemann said. “Our cities have long-standing ties stretching back to the late 1800s, and we are inextricably connected through our heritage, family ties and sincere friendships. Our historic and cultural bond has been preserved through business interaction, tourism, sports, cultural and educational exchanges, and the promotion of peace.”