UPDATE 1: Ige, Hirono Comment on Historic Pearl Harbor Visit

The USS Arizona Memorial, at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. Big Island Now stock photo.

UPDATE 1: Dec. 27,  7:10 p.m.

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono attended yesterday’s meeting between President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

“President Obama and Prime Minister Abe’s visit to Pearl Harbor is a testament to reconciliation and a continued, strong alliance between our two countries,” said Sen. Hirono. “In the years ahead, the U.S-Japan alliance will remain a cornerstone in our unwavering commitment to promote stability and stronger economic partnerships with our Indo-Asia-Pacific partners.”

Sen. Hirono was accompanied by World War II veteran Dr. Yoshinobu Oshiro of Pearl City. Dr. Oshiro served in the Military Intelligence Service and later was the senator’s sixth-grade teacher.

ORIGINAL POST: Dec. 27, 2:20 p.m.

Gov. David Ige released the following statement regarding today’s historic visit of President Barack Obama and Japan Prime Minister Shinzō  Abe to Pearl Harbor

“Today we saw President Obama and Prime Minister Abe stand together at Pearl Harbor. They honored the bravery and courage demonstrated in this sacred place 75 years ago. Most importantly, they both delivered a message of tolerance, reconciliation and peace. I know the people of Hawaiʻi join me and our national leaders in committing to a continued partnership that benefits our state and both nations.”

President Obama reflected upon the events at Pearl Harbor 75 years ago and paid tribute to the renewed relations between Japan and the United States.

“The United States and Japan chose friendship and they chose peace. Over the decades, our alliances have made the nations more successful,” Obama said. “Today, the alliance between the United States and Japan, bound not only by shared interests but also rooted in common values, stands as the cornerstone of peace and civility in the Asian-Pacific and a force for progress around the globe, our alliance has never been stronger. In good times and in bad we’re there for each other.”

Prime Minister Abe also spoke about paying tribute to the events that transpired at Pearl Harbor.

“It is my wish that our Japanese children, and President Obama, your American children, and indeed their children and grandchildren, and people all around the world, will continue to remember Pearl Harbor as the symbol of reconciliation,” Abe said. “We will spare no efforts to continue our endeavors to make that wish a reality. Together with President Obama, I hereby make my steadfast pledge.”