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A sampling of graduate students at Hawaii Pacific University on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference here this week drew responses that split all over the lot—and thus seemed to reflect a cross-section of opinion throughout Honolulu.

Ashleigh Haas, who agreed to be quoted by name, said: “While APEC has had almost no impact on my daily life, I still remain unconvinced that the benefits of holding it here outweigh the cons.”

An Army officer, Darby Baird, said: “Given the growth in U.S.-Asian economic relations, I view APEC as extremely important.” But he said it has only “slightly” affected his life.

In contrast, Master Sgt. Maurice Williams, driving into work at 12:30 in the morning, said a guard at the gate to his post told him: “Wow, you guys are all coming in early; is that because of APEC?” The sergeant said this had made him realize that more was known about this event that he had figured before.

Joe Jennings echoed a widespread lament: “Traffic congestion, but other than that it doesn’t affect me at all.” He added, however, that the APEC meeting was “overrated and overdone in the news.”

Ian MacLean had a different view: “The international media showing Hawaii should help tourism. Nationally, getting trade agreements might help with our job issues.” Jerry Hanlin said that despite the impact on folks in Waikiki, APEC “puts a spotlight on Hawaii, which can have a positive impact in the region.”

Charles Bies saw APEC as a good opportunity for Pacific nations to exercise diplomacy. Beyond that, he said, “I live in Ewa Beach so it has not affected my day-to-day life.” Nash Roehr, who works in Ala Moana to earn money to pay for school, said the opposite: “Business has been unusually slow due to people wanting to avoid the area.”

A young woman who preferred not to be named said APEC was a “good idea” but that “living here, it is a pain to have all this excess here.” She grumbled that some events, such as a Veterans Day parade, had been cancelled. “That being said,” she concluded, “it needs to be held somewhere.”

This student, along with several others, had little patience with those who demonstrated against the APEC meeting: “People who are protesting are ridiculous, in my opinion.” A man agreed: “The APEC protesters have no real basis for their arguments.”

Another woman said it was good to hold this conference to help Asian nations to overcome obstacles to working together. “Otherwise,” she said, “it drives me crazy with the traffic. Hawaii isn’t ready for a conference this size.”

Said one man: “APEC hasn’t connected with me. It has, however, disintegrated local news to the point where every story ties into APEC.”

Another man said he hoped APEC would produce sources of income for Hawaii but objected to “the traffic, the security cameras and all the other saturation of APEC-related ‘stuff’ in our faces—if you live Hawaii.”

A woman shrugged it all off: “APEC has not affected me at all because I am a student who only goes to school and does nothing else.”