The former Hawai Town established sister city relations with Hawaii County, Hawaii, USA, in November 1996, due to the shared name. In October 2004, Hawai Town merged with other municipalities to form Yurihama Town, but the exchange has continued. The Aloha Monument was erected to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the merger. The word Aloha is a Hawaiian greeting meaning hello, goodbye, thank you, and more. It also embodies the spirit of compassion, respect, and love—an openness to all. The monument symbolizes the hope that Hawaii County, Yurihama Town, and all visitors to this area will be united by the spirit of Aloha, with their bonds enduring forever.