In the spirit of Kapiʻolani Community Collegeʻs ongoing International Week, the campus graciously received special visitors from Ukraine on Monday as part of the Open World Program.
Amongst the visitors were five mayors form different cities in Ukraine, also accompanied by a translator.
The guests were immediately introduced to the islands unique culinary specialties, as they were offered warmed taro bread as a part of their grand welcome. The two parties convened in the Tamarind room in the Ohelo building, and had food catered exquisitely by the culinary students.
The Open World Program is funded by a federal grant that helps to promote cooperation between Ukraine and America. The international relationship helps to establish unbreakable bonds between seas that could likely come in handy further down the line.
The mayors were met by KCC faculty and John Morton, Vice President of the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges. KCC also provided their own translator, making it easier to communicate between the disparate groups.
The visitors were dressed to the nines in their best business suits, while the local staff were donned in Aloha attire, producing a stark juxtaposition between the distant ideologies at hand.
In a wonderfully charismatic and charming opening speech, the head Ukrainian Mayor made an impromptu phone call to one of their countries most famous opera singers and had her belt out a truly poignant serenade for all in attendance via speakerphone.
By the end of the luncheon, both sides had shared laughs and stories, cementing the unlikely relationship for years to come.