Photo/Illutration Wildfire devastation is seen on Aug. 10 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo)

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi pledged $2 million (292 million yen) on Aug. 16 to support communities devastated by wildfires in Maui.

Provided through the American Red Cross, the aid will be used to deliver shelter, food and psychological support to survivors.

Municipalities across the country are also raising funds to help. Many have historical links with the Hawaiian island.

Officials of Hachijojima island started a donation drive on Aug. 16, which will last until late September.

Since the remote island established a sister-city relationship with Maui in 1964, people on both islands have invited each other to local music and sports events.

“The people of Maui cared for us when a typhoon hit us before, now we want to return the favor,” said a municipal official.

Located some 290 kilometers south of Tokyo, Hachijojima was once called the “Hawaii of Japan” because of its warm climate. It was a popular honeymoon destination in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when a trip to Hawaii was still unaffordable for most Japanese people.

Fukuyama in Hiroshima Prefecture is another municipality raising funds for its friendship city. Many people immigrated to Hawaii from the prefecture in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

The Okinawa prefectural government also plans to provide aid to Maui. By 1938, around 20,000 people had immigrated to Hawaii from the prefecture.

“Okinawa and Hawaii have a history of helping each other. We want to support their reconstruction,” said a prefectural official.

(This article was written by Anri Takahashi and Natsuki Edogawa.)

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