Hawai'i Becomes Sister-State With Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Morocco

Governor Abercrombie, the Moroccan delegation, Reps. Awana and Hashem

Aloha and asalaam alaikum! Yesterday, Governor Neil Abercrombie and M. Bouamor Taghouan, President of the Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer Region Council, Kingdom of Morocco formally entered into a sister-state relationship between their two states.

Governor Abercrombie and President Taghouan signing the agreement

This union took several years of hard work to come to fruition. House Committee on International Relations Chair, Rep. Karen Awana, took the lead in assuring that the agreement was actualized and, along with Vice-Chair, Rep. Mark Hashem, was present for the signing.

"Establishing this relationship with Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer marks a milestone for Hawaiian international relations and opens a gateway of friendship between our state and North Africa," said Rep. Awana.

Rep. Awana presenting a proclamation to the Moroccan delegation

The Moroccan delegation that came to Hawai'i for this historic signing included Ambassador to the United States, Mohamed Rachad Bouhlal; Moroccan Minister of Interior, Saad Hassar; President of the Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer Region Council, M. Bouamor Taghouan; Director General of the Agency of the South, Ahmed Hajji; and Secretary General of Economic and Social Council of Morocco, Driss Guerraoui.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the Moroccan fountain

To commemorate this momentous occasion, the Kingdom of Morocco has generously donated a fountain to the people of Hawai'i. Groundbreaking for the construction of the fountain occurred yesterday afternoon at the Hawai't State Art Museum.