Photo shows (L-R): Atty. Alfredo Evangelista; Ms. Tess Noble, Consul General Jimeno, Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa; Madame Araceli A. Jimeno; and Mr. Noel Sanchez

(23 April 2018, Honolulu, Hawaii) - Members of the Filipino community on Maui warmly welcomed Consul General Joselito A. Jimeno and Madame Araceli A. Jimeno during their visit to the island on 19 to 20 April 2018.

The visit to Maui, known as the “Valley Isle”, was Consul General Jimeno’s first official travel to a Neighbor Island since his arrival in Hawaii on 5 February 2018.

During his visit, Consul General Jimeno sat down for an interview with Maui News, a Maui-based, daily newspaper covering the islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai where he discussed his priorities as Consul General and the issues concerning Filipino Americans in Hawaii.

Consul General Jimeno, together with Madame Jimeno, also paid a courtesy call on County of Hawaii Mayor Alan Arakawa. During the call, Consul General Jimeno expressed his appreciation to Mayor Arakawa for his office’s assistance in the Philippine Consulate’s mobile consular outreach services on Maui. Mayor Arakawa conveyed his appreciation for the support of the Filipino Community on the island, noting   the many competent and highly-talented Filipinos living and working on Maui. He also assured the Consul General that his office is always open to provide assistance to the Philippine Consulate General and the Filipino Americans on Maui.

In the evening, the Filipino community on Maui gathered at the Velma McWayne Community Center in Wailuku for a welcome reception, replete with a mixture of Filipino and Hawaiian entertainment and salu-salo, in honor of Consul General and Madame Jimeno.

While on Maui, Consul General and Madame Jimeno also visited Tante’s Island Cuisine, one of the prominent Filipino-owned restaurants on the island, and Sabado Studios which features the art work of Maui-based Filipino artist, Philip Sabado.

Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian islands, and the 17th largest island in the United States. It is home to approximately 40,000 Filipinos and Filipino Americans.  (END)

Dancers perform a Tahitian dance during the Welcome Reception for Consul General and Madame Jimeno

Photo (L-R): Mr. Erin Sabado, Ms. Tess Noble, Madame Araceli Jimeno, Consul General Jimeno, Philip Sabado and Christine Sabado