Japan orphans arrive for Hawaii visit
Four children from Holy Family Home, an orphanage in Osaka, Japan, arrived in Honolulu today to continue a tradition that an Army regiment began 52 years ago.
Four host families part of the 27th U.S. Infantry Regiment, better known as the Wolfhounds, volunteered to house the children during their 10-day trip.
After going through customs, the children were greeted by a line of public officials, soldiers and their families, and people from the community with welcoming lei.
The Wolfhounds have visited the orphanage and donated supplies and money since 1949, while the soldiers were stationed at Osaka, and began inviting children to the Islands in 1957.
"We just wanted to be able to open a home to them," said Tanya Webb, who will host Izumi Takenaka, 11, and Chihiro Aoyama, 10, with her husband, Capt. David Webb, for the next five days.
Each child will stay with two different families, who have children of their own, five days each. The two girls and two boys will stay together as they visit their host families. Host families and the children will participate in activities at the Polynesian Cultural Center, Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, Dole Plantation and Outrigger Canoe Club.
Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann declared today Wolfhound Day in honor of the regiment and their undertaking with Holy Family Home.
"This ongoing relationship with Holy Family Home orphanage has produced goodwill and deepened the ties between America and Japan," said city managing director Kirk Caldwell on behalf of Hannemann, who could not attend because of furlough discussions.