Hawaii Gov. David Ige says Japan is Hawaii’s most important source of foreign tourists, and his recent trip there was intended to solidify that relationship.

“The relationship between Japan and Hawaii is more than business, it’s more than friendship. It really is about family,” Ige said after he returned Friday.

Over 31⁄2 days, Ige had 19 meetings, including one with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Ige and his chief of staff, Mike McCartney, met with airlines, travel agents and government representatives.

The trip cost an estimated $9,800, which was paid for by the Governor’s Office, spokeswoman Jodi Leong said. Ige’s wife, Dawn Amano-Ige, paid her own way and visited Chigasaki, Honolulu’s sister city, where schools are seeking to exchange students with Hawaii.

“We wanted to make sure that those at the highest level in our Japanese partners are fully aware that the governor of the state of Hawaii thinks that relation- ship is important,” the governor said.