Sunrise over Hakata Bay. Fukuoka, the capital of Fukuoka prefecture and the largest city on Kyushu (1.4 million people), is located on the bay, on the northern coast of the island. Fukuoka has a long history of trade with China, Korea, and other parts of Asia. During the 19th and early 20th century, immigrants from Fukuoka came to Hawai'i to work on the sugar plantations. In 2006, the State of Hawaii and Fukuoka Prefecture celebrated 25 years of "sister state" relations.