Gov. David Ige’s office says he will represent Hawaii at a White House state dinner honoring Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next week.

President Barack Obama will host the dinner for Abe on Tuesday.

Ige says in a statement it’s an honor to be invited to represent Hawaii and reinforce Hawaii’s strong cultural and economic ties with Japan.

Ige is the first person of Okinawan descent to be elected governor of a U.S. state. He took office in December.

Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui will be acting governor while Ige is away in Washington.