The Pan-Pacific Festival created traffic havoc in my neighborhood today, but rather than flee to another part of the island, I decided to venture to Kalakaua and check out the parade this afternoon.

There were lions. There was taiko. There were hula troupes from Japan, which had added a slightly odd, but very spirited clapping to the traditional Hawaiian dance.

There were also the Obama Girls. No, not skin-bearing Amber Lee Ettinger of “I Got a Crush on Obama” fame, I’m talking about the REAL Obama Girls — from Obama, Japan.

Obama Girls: “We come from Obama city in Japan.” (Love the guy in green leading with the sign.)

Since one Obama has exploded on the national and international scene, the other Obama, a fishing town of about 32,000 in central Japan, has enthusiastically showered support upon the presidential candidate with “I Love Obama” t-shirts, Obama bean cakes, which bear his likeness, and recently, the hula-dancing Obama Girls. Although they cannot vote in November, they seek to promote relations between Obama, Japan and Hawaii.

“Obama” in Japanese means “small shore.”

In March, MSNBC reported that Barack Obama sent a thank-you letter to the town — but officials, in true Japanese fashion, were still trying to find out if it was authentic:

Town officials said they believed the letter was genuine, although they had not verified it. They said they were concerned that it would be impolite to ask the candidate’s office.

Tags: 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama, Hawaii, Japan, waikiki, weekend

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