Cook Islands and Hawaii look to expand co-operation

Cook Islands and Hawaii look to expand co-operation
Senator Dru Kanuha (left) with Prime Minister the Hon. Mark Brown

Senator Dru Kanuha, a member of the Hawaii State Senate representing District 3, will lead a delegation visiting the Cook Islands from 17 - 21 May 2023 to discuss future economic, tourism, trade, cultural, and people-to-people ties with the Cook Islands.

The Senator's delegation includes representatives from Hawaii's Senate Committee, Hawaiian Airlines, and Hawaii City Council, and the visit coincides with the commencement of the direct Honolulu - Rarotonga flight, which arrives this week.

This week's visit by Senator Kanuha marks a year since an initial meeting between Cook Islands Prime Minister, the Hon. Mark Brown, and Senator Kanuha in Pape'ete, while both were on separate economic and trade expansion missions to French Polynesia.

"I'm delighted our government is able to welcome Senator Kanuha to Rarotonga this week and hold further discussions on how we might together discuss future bilateral co-operation between ourselves," said Prime Minister Brown.

"Transport links are imperative to the expansion of trade and economic opportunities with Hawaii and the arrival of the direct Honolulu - Rarotonga flight this week will be the catalyst for our shared aspirations which is rooted in our shared cultural heritage and trade links which go back decades."

The program of engagements for the visit is being coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration in partnership with the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, the Business Trade and Investment Board, and the Ministry of Culture.

Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Albert Nicholas, will host the delegation's visit on behalf of Prime Minister Brown, who is attending the 79th UN ESCAP session in Bangkok and will travel on to attend the G7 Leaders Summit to convene in Hiroshima.

The delegation have a series of engagements with Cook Islands government, business, and resident Hawaiians in Rarotonga and Aitutaki and will depart for Honolulu on the direct flight which leaves on Sunday.