Mayor Kirk Caldwell left for the Philippines Monday with the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii an eight-day trip.

The purpose of the visit is "to strengthen ties, promote business opportunities, and renew sister city agreements," Caldwell’s office said.

Managing Director Ember Lee Shinn is also out of state at a meeting of the Urban Land Institute in Portland, Oregon. City Director of the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services Nelson Koyanagi, Jr. will be acting mayor from Feb. 10 to 13. Shinn will be acting mayor when she returns Feb. 14 until Caldwell returns Feb. 18.