Konawaena High hosts Fukuoka All-Star girls basketball team as part of statewide immersive cultural exchange

The Fukuoka All-Star girls basketball team concluded a week-long stay in Hawaiʻi as part of a student sports exchange program focused on cultural understanding and developing positive relationships through in-person, authentic interactions.

The team visited high schools for student networking and cultural experiences culminating with goodwill games against ʻIolani School, Kamehameha School and Konawaena High.

“Seeing the beautiful ocean, the people of Hawaiʻi were smiling, trying to communicate with us, that made us forget everyday small things,” said Miyabi Naito, Fukuoka Girls All-Star basketball team. “I feel like I have grown so much. When I go back to Japan, I hope to keep these memories and use them to make myself a better person.”

On Hawaiʻi Island, the Fukuoka team and the Konawaena High School girls basketball team visited Country Samurai Coffee Farm and learned about experiences of the first Japanese immigrants from owner Walter Kunitake.

Kunitake is a third generation coffee grower whose family is originally from Fukuoka. His grandparents began Kona coffee growing beginning at about 1910 and the original trees grown from that period are still being farmed by his relatives.

The tour was followed by an exhibition game at Konawaena High School. The Fukuoka All-Star Girls Basketball Team bested all three Hawaiʻi teams in the games.

“I was excited to share with the Japanese team that we can be respectful towards their culture, and that we can, like, exchange things, and just overall just share our kindness with each other while they’re here,” said Kaylie Yamasaki, co-captain of the Konawaena basketball team.

Gov. George Ariyoshi initiated the first international Sister-State agreement for Hawaiʻi in 1981. The sister-state agreements have now grown to 19 partnerships globally. The Fukuoka-Hawaiʻi Sports Exchange, centered around basketball, is scheduled to conclude next year with an intent to extend the program with another sport.