On July 21, the "Round Table Discussion & Hawaii Coffee Tasting" convened in Guangzhou,Guangdong, celebrating four decades of twinning between Guangdong Province and Hawaii. Delegates from the Hawaii State Legislature joined representatives of Guangdong's coffee and e-commerce sectors, with multiple Hawaiian Arabica coffee varieties showcased at the event.
"My great-grandfather immigrated from Guangdong back in the 1800s. To come back to a place of my ancestors is very exciting, but also to build upon a relationship between Hawaii and China," said Daniel Holt, Chair of Hawaii's House Committee on Legislative Management, who emphasized his extra excitement for his trip to Guangdong.
Addressing the coffee trade, Holt noted: "Hawaii is very famous for its coffee. And it's very exciting that China is picking up on our products. We look forward to sending more coffee out and maybe even developing different relationships." He further highlighted technological reciprocity, stating: "A lot of the technology we can learn from here in China would be beneficial to our industries."
Ralph Gaston, co-owner of Isla Custom Coffees and Rusty's Hawaiian, highlighted enduring cultural connections between Hawaii and Guangdong, characterizing his participation as contributing to "cultural reconnection." Observing China's rapidly expanding coffee market, he emphasized consumer demand for globally sourced premium beans and positioned Hawaiian producers as suppliers of world-class coffee. Gaston advocated blending cultural exchange with coffee appreciation as an ideal relationship-building strategy.
For Dennis T. Ling, Administrator of Hawaii's Business Development & Support Division, he also shared his personal heritage from Guangdong: "My ancestry comes from Zhongshan, and I look forward to visiting." He framed coffee as cultural diplomacy: "Coffee is grown throughout Hawaii. If we share this specialty with China, allowing them to experience what we're proud of, they can feel where we come from. We hope people will enjoy the spirit of our islands and country."
During structured discussions, government and business delegates explored concrete cooperation avenues including coffee market development, logistics, marketing strategies, and cultivation techniques. The discussion exemplified how shared heritage and agricultural excellence continue to reinforce the Guangdong-Hawaii partnership four decades after formal twinning.
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Video & Photo: Pan Jiajun
Video cover: Pan Jiajun
Editor: Yuan Zixiang, James, Shen He
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Guangdong brews Hawaiian coffee exchange for 40th twinning milestone
