Hawaii, Goa to be sister states soon: Parsekar

The island state of Hawaii in the US will soon be a sister state of Goa, with the state cabinet on Thursday formally resolving to establish such a relationship.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said the cabinet approved a draft memorandum of understanding for collaboration between the two tropical states, known for their beaches.

"The actual signing will be held at a later date," Parsekar said, during a post-cabinet briefing at the state secretariat.

"We have held discussions about collaboration in other areas like promotion of trade, tourism, sports, pharma, yoga, ayurveda and Hawaiian products, wellness techniques and academics. The exchange will be mutual," he said.

The idea to make Goa and Hawaii sister states came two years ago during the visit of Tulsi Gabbard, a Congresswomen from Hawaii.

Gabbard, an American of Samoan origin is a practising Hindu. The art and culture department of the Goa government has been appointed as the nodal agency and will be in charge of shaping the sister-state relationship, Parsekar said.