Today we’d like to share an article on the USS Missouri memorial’s monthly newsletter “Scuttlebutt” January 2025 issue, highlighting the Nagaoka student’s study tour to Hawaii! As in previous years, HGEF had the honor of coordinating their trip to our island.
Find out more about the USS Missouri Memorial at their website!
Article transcript:
Students from Japan and Hawaii Unite Aboard the Mighty Mo
In January, the Battleship Missouri Memorial hosted 20 students from Nagaoka, Japan, and 10 students from Mililani Middle School in Hawaii for an overnight encampment aboard the ship. The students had a unique opportunity to stay on the Mighty Mo, explore its history, and engage in interactive activities.
This encampment was made possible by the Nagaoka City International Exchange Foundation (NIEA), which has been sending seventh graders on a Hawaii Study Tour since 2013. Nagaoka City and Honolulu have shared a sister-city agreement since 2015, supported by Ed Hawkins, former Director of Economic Development under Mayor Caldwell and past President of the Japan-America Society (JASH), a longtime advocate for this cultural exchange. These student exchanges emphasize focus on peace studies—Honolulu experienced the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, while Nagaoka endured an air raid in 1945. Through this program, students learn about each other’s history and share their perspectives.
2025 marks the second year of this blended student encampment on the Missouri, and we look forward to continuing this meaningful tradition for years to come!