APEC 2011 Hawaii — LIVE BLOG ARCHIVE — Nov. 12
Here’s what Civil Beat reported in its live APEC blog on Saturday, Nov. 12.
If President Barack Obama had his way, he once joked, he’d make the APEC world leaders dress in aloha shirts and grass skirts when they came to Hawaii.
Instead, Saturday marked the first time Obama had ever worn a suit in Aloha State.
Still, there was one tradition Obama didn’t want to break as he hosted the APEC Leader’s Dinner earlier this evening at the Hale Koa.
“Here in Hawaii there is a traditional gathering that we call a luau. It’s basically an excuse for a good party,” he said.
“It’s used for every occasion. We have birthday luaus, graduation luaus and now we have APEC luaus.”
At that point, someone in the audience gave a loud shout of approval and Obama joked: “See, somebody’s ready to party already.”
“We have music. We have song. We have celebration and we have hula dancing,” Obama said. “Now, Michelle doesn’t think I’m a very good dancer so I will not be performing,” which drew laughter from the crowd.
After Obama’s brief remarks, the emcee introduced Kumu Hula Manu Boyd and his hula halau as the first performers of the evening.
The halau began with a traditional Hawaiian chant, led by Boyd.
Beautiful as it was, the media were rushed out before the real show began.
— Local pool reports
Posted by on at 11:36PM HST (12 hours ago)
A few minute before 10 p.m., revelers exited the Honolulu Academy of Arts, where the APEC Hawaii Host Committee was hosting a private party.
Across the street, about a half dozen police officers in aloha attire were gathered near the Occupy Honoluluencampment at the edge of Thomas Square Park.
But as the 10 p.m. park curfew approached, the officers dispersed, leaving about two dozen protesters — including a handful of young children — to their own devices.
Most were on the sidewalk by then, drawing occasional honks from passing motorists.
Todd Hammond, a lead figure in the local Occupy movement, said he expects Occupy Honolulu to continue beyond the end of APEC Sunday.
In fact, Hammond said, APEC has been drawing some supporters away from Occupy Honolulu. He hopes the movement will gain strength to deal with local economic issues after the international economic summit leaves town.
— Michael Levine
Posted by on at 10:22PM HST (13 hours ago)
Scant details on who’ll be the main show at tonight’s APEC Leader’s Dinner. But we spotted a roadie unloading a large ukelele next to a piano, drum set and bongos.
Could it mean the highly-anticipated entertainment of the evening will be Hawaii’s own ukelele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro?
Posted by on at 9:26PM HST (38 minutes ago)
Earlier during dinner, Obama gave a speech filled with Hawaii symbolism.
Here are a few excerpts from the White House pool report, filed by Laura Meckler of The Wall Street Journal:
“I could not imagine a more fitting place than my home state of Hawaii. Here we are literally in the center of the Pacific. Here we’re reminded of the progress that’s possible when people of different background and beliefs come together. This is the most diverse state in our nation, home to so many races and immigrants and Americans who trace their roots back to many of your countries. Hawaii’s not perfect but I think Hawaii comes about as close as you’ll come to a true melting pot of cultures. Here we’re a single ohana, one family.”
“We remember that beneath the surface, behind all the different languages and some very long names, we all share the same hopes, the same struggles and the same aspirations,” he said. “And we’ve learned that we’re more likely to realize our aspirations when we pursue them together. That’s the spirit of Hawaii. It’s what made me who I am. It’s what shapes my interactions with all of you. And it’s the spirit that I hope guides us in our work this weekend.”
He then proposed a toast “with the words of a traditional Hawaiian proverb.”
He said the toast in Hawaiian and then translated.
“That means ‘no task is too big when done together by all.’ Cheers. Salud.”
He toasted with a glass of water.
— Chad Blair
Posted by on at 9:17PM HST (47 minutes ago)
Photo credit: Pierre Omidyar
Or rather, waiting for the VIPs to come so the show can start. Organizers have been tight-lipped on what the entertainment will be.
Posted by on at 9:09PM HST (55 minutes ago)
Photo credit: Pierre Omidyar
Alan Wong scored big.
The popular Honolulu chef is the caterer behind the APEC Leader’s Dinner at the Hale Koa tonight. Hope his crew doesn’t burn the APEC badges hanging over their chef coats.
Posted by on at 8:15PM HST (1 hour ago)
If you look real closely, you can spot Honolulu Councilmember Stanley Chang in the picture.
Posted by on at 7:48PM HST (2 hours ago)
I said earlier that the leaders of China and South Korea received the most camera clicks. That could be because so many of the journalists on the riser are from those two nations.
Here’s a shot of POTUS welcoming Lien Chan and his wife Fang Yui:
Photo: Dennis Oda
But back to the show: Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, enters alone. He is wearing a dark suit. And, now that I look closer, maybe POTUS’ suit is more charcoal grey than blue. Sorry; the Klieg lights are doing tricks with color.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada and his wife follow.
“Guys, how are you,” says POTUS. The two couple appear quite simpatico, hugging and kissing lightly. The talk much longer with each other.
Mrs. Harper is wearing a dark navy blue skirt whose hem line is daringly above the knee. Well, this is Hawaii, after all!
Julia Gillard, prime minister of Australia, and her partner follow. It is a similarly effusive greeting, and, for whatever reason, the camera’s are going nuts. Gillard is the only female leader of the APEC bunch here, given that Thailand’s Yingluck Shinawatra is absent.
“Come on,” POTUS says, waving his hand to invite the couples to their photo op. Again, it is clear that sharing a common language facilitates dialogue.
And it’s over. POTUS and FLOTUS exit holding hands.
Time to party behind the “privacy wall.”
— Chad Blair
Posted by on at 7:45PM HST (2 hours ago)
And…we’re back.
Sebastián Piñera, president of Chile, enters. “Hello!” says President Barack Obama.
Hu Jintao, the paramount leader of the People’s Republic of China, follows, with his wife.
My observation is that, based on all the cameras clicking, he is the biggest draw for this media pool, with South Korean’s leader next in popularity.
Hu Jintao’s wife says nothing and stands quietly next to FLOTUS as a translator translates dialogue between the two male leaders of the two most powerful nations on the planet.
And then comes another break.
— Chad Blair
Posted by on at 7:31PM HST (2 hours ago)
Music can be heard from behind the “privacy wall.” It occurs to me that, with the security zone in place, there is no one on the beach, which is quite near. The dinner may have an ocean-front view.
The leader of Indonesia and his wife enter, and President Barack Obama greets them with what is likely a customary Indonesian greeting. POTUS, of course, spent several formative years in the country, the world’s largest Muslim nation.
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of Japan is next. He is a newly elected leader, having come into office only a few months ago. Japan, of course, is trying to recover from the devastating earthquake and tsunami of last March.
Lee Myung-bak, president of South Korea, and his wife (pictured below) are next. I should note here that some of the leaders are also accompanied by translators.
Now comes Dmitry Medvedev, president of the Russian Federation, alone. He is animated in his talk with POTUS and FLOTUS. POTUS slaps him on the back. And then it is time for another break.
— Chad Blair
Posted by on at 7:21PM HST (2 hours ago)
The leader of Malaysia enters next with his wife.
It’s been each leader and a spouse — if they have one.
Aquino of the Philippines, for example, is a notorious bachelor — spends no more than a minute with President Barack Obama and the First Lady, and there is a break of several minutes following every three or so leaders that enter.
With each break, POTUS and FLOTUS leave the greeting space under the banyan tree and disappear behind the “privacy wall.”
After the break, the chief executive of the Hong Kong region and his wife enter. Then, the deputy prime minister enters.
“Good to see you,” POTUS says to a fellow English-speaker.
All the men wear unremarkable suits; and all the women are dressed to the nines. FLOTUS is so tall that she towers over everyone.
— Chad Blair
Posted by on at 7:15PM HST (2 hours ago)
It is not clear what dictates the order of arrivals of world leaders.
The leader of Singapore followed the leader of Taiwan, referred to as Chinese Taipei. The deputy prime minister of Thailand followed, standing in for that country’s leader who chose to remain home to deal with record floods afflicting her nation.
Papua New Guinea follows (pictured above), with FLOTUS gently and briefly patting the back of the leader’s wife. Then there is a short break.
The leader of Peru follows, then a representative of the Mexico. Of course, Felipe Calderon is not here tonight because of a helicopter crash back home that killed a senior government official. Vietnam follows, and the leader’s wife is wearing a full-length blue gown.
Benigno Aquino III, president of the Philippines, is next, and POTUS tells him, audibly, “Good to see you, my friend.”
— Chad Blair
Posted by on at 7:05PM HST (2 hours ago)
Major snafu getting attendees into the Hale Koa Leader’s Dinner.
They had badges only for the primary invitees, not spouses.
Spouses were all on a printed list but each had to be confirmed by phone, before a badge was given.
Adding to the confusion: Badge catch-22.
Badges with attendees’ names on them were held behind the security check. But without a badge, attendees can’t pass through security to pick them up.
Instead, runners were sent around the corner to collect badges and bring them back in front of security, reports Civil Beat Publisher Pierre Omidyar.
Posted by on at 6:58PM HST (3 hours ago)
President Barack Obama and the First Lady have finally arrived at the Hale Koa, albeit 30 minutes behind schedule. Their arrival was preceded by the arrival of countless police cars (and other vehicles, possibly limousines) on Kalia Road, blue lights glowing softly but sirens turned off.
POTUS is wearing a dark blue suit, FLOTUS has a gray skirt, a pink blouse and silver heels.
The first leader to be greeted is the leader of Taipei and his wife. The shake hands, exchange a few words and pose for a photo.
On another note, just before the greeting ceremony began, a coordinator of the media pool remarked how there are cockroaches crawling on the green grounds of the hotel. “It’s disgusting,” she tells a mainland reporter, smiling grimly.
— Chad Blair
Posted by on at 6:48PM HST (3 hours ago)
It’s not easy getting to the APEC Leaders’ Dinner — even with an invite.
They’re searching cars so slowly on Lewers Street that some dinner attendees hopped out of their cars and walked instead.
After leaving the Sheraton, State Sens. Les Ihara and Brickwood Galuteria were left standing on a corner while State Department security and secret service agents argued about letting non-credentialed people through, reports Civil Beat publisher Pierre Omidyar.
Posted by on at 6:29PM HST (3 hours ago)
And some of you were worried the rest of the world wasn’t taking notice.
Twitter blew up today with APEC-related tweets in foreign languages. Here are a few that caught our eye.
Here’s an original post that got at least a dozen retweets, about Indonesia’s two former presidents.
A very crude translation, via Google, reads like this:
Jasmerah, sir! Prev Sukarno fell around the worldspeaking. Flywheels burned when Suharto in Egypt, speaking. # APEC
Another one:
why my friends # caviar scrub them so that is NOT present in # APEC? notwanting to see him giving a speech at # ALBA?
Posts from foreign news services translate much better:
Nine countries in the Asia Pacific region, announced agreement “broadly” to create the largest free trade area in the world #APEC
— Katherine Poythress
Posted by on at 6:19PM HST (3 hours ago)
APEC attendees are all abuzz on Twitter about an iconic Russian beverage to be served this evening.
— Katherine Poythress
Posted by on at 6:10PM HST (3 hours ago)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev concluded the two-day APEC CEO Summit at the Sheraton Waikiki by inviting attendees to travel to Russia for APEC next year.
He said he had just met with President Barack Obama before arriving at the Sheraton. Through a translator, Medvedev said he promised Obama that while the weather wouldn’t be as perfect as it is here in Honolulu, there would be good weather in Vladivostok for next year’s conference.
— Nanea Kalani
Posted by on at 6:10PM HST (3 hours ago)
T-minus 30 minutes to when President Barack Obama will be greeting the APEC world leaders.
He and the First Lady will greet the dignitaries under a nicely-lit banyan tree.
… And a picture of all the media crowded around this one shot.
The sun has just set, the temperature is a pleasant 82 degrees, the sky is clear and a light wind blows.
The banyan tree has been illuminated with what appear to be red, white and blue flood lights.
There is shrubbery and potted plants, and five small signs that feature the words “APEC USA 2011” on blue panels.
As each leader engages in greetings at the “photo op tree” — that’s exactly what it is called — they will continue along a sidewalk before disappearing behind what is called the “privacy wall.” The tops of white tents are visible above the wall.
The White House is expected to issue a press release later tonight detailing the evening’s menu. The entertainment is described as “cultural,” perhaps Hawaiian hula and music.
— Chad Blair
Posted by on at 5:52PM HST (4 hours ago)
Protesters with World Can’t Wait and Moana Nui spent about 20 minutes chanting and reading protest statements on the sidewalk near the Hale Koa as police blocked their path.
Then they moved off to a small park across from the Luana Waikiki hotel on Kalakaua Avenue where the chanting continued.
The protest march began in Stadium Park. It took marchers about 40 minutes to work their way to Kalakaua Avenue where they ran up against physical blockades protecting the hotel where President Obama is expected to host a dinner for dignitaries. A line of Honolulu police officers on bikes also assured that protesters wouldn’t get any closer.
A group of Vietnamese protesting for democracy and human rights also made the march, but stayed distinct from the anti-APEC group. The Vietnamese left the area as soon as the marchers reached the police barricade at Kalakaua.
— Michael Levine
Posted by on at 5:45PM HST (4 hours ago)
Protesters have finally made it to Waikiki and as close to the Hale Koa as police will allow. A standoff is in the works.
Posted by on at 5:24PM HST (4 hours ago)
Fifty journalists (they include me) have arrived at the Hale Koa Hotel and are set up on a 2-tier riser, about 30 feet from the spot under a banyan tree where POTUS and FLOTUS will greet Hu Jintao, Dmitry Medvedev and other leaders for tonight’s dinner.
The short bus ride from the Convention Center to the Hale Koa required going inside the security zone that surrounds the hotel and much of the neighboring Hilton Hawaiian Village, where the president is staying.
The zone is demarcated by concrete barriers and steel fences that have been cloaked to preventing anyone from seeing in or out.
It’s a surreal sight: Outside the zone, traffic along McCully and Kalakaua is stalled; security personnel check IDs and wave arms; tourists bustle back and forth, wondering what the heck is going on. Inside the zone, it is nearly deserted, save for more security and EMS personnel; there are many large spotlights erected, with the lights turned away from the hotel, as if to blind anyone trying to see the Hale Koa.
One other note: The Hale Koa, which is run by the U.S. Armed Forces, is perhaps the ugliest hotel in Waikiki, resembling nothing so much as military pillboxes stacked one on top of the other.
— Chad Blair
Posted by on at 5:12PM HST (4 hours ago)
Local Taiwanese protesters marched down Kalakaua Avenue in the hope of reaching the Hale Koa and gaining the attention of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Jintao is meeting at the Waikiki hotel with President Barack Obama and other world leaders.
Armed with bullhorns, the protesters shouted “Viva Taiwan” and “Aloha Taiwan.” But they couldn’t gain access to the hotel because security had blocked the roads leading there and constructed security barricades around the area.
Even though Taiwan gained its independence from China, it is not recognized by the United Nations and wasn’t invited to APEC as an independent country but are participating as “Chinese Taipei.”
— Sophie Cocke
Posted by on at 5:06PM HST (5 hours ago)
A lot has happened today — and it’s not even dinnertime yet. Wanna know what’s going on but in a hurry? Here’s a quick recap.
AT APEC:
– President Barack Obama spoke to a group of global business executives at the APEC CEO Summit at the Sheraton Waikiki this morning. Obama, who grew up in Hawaii, said this is the first time he has worn a suit here.
– President Obama and Japan Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda exchanged words of mutual admiration and respect before a bilateral meeting this afternoon.
– Honolulu Police said security is a mess at the Hale Koa, where 21 world leaders are to gather for dinner this evening.
– Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz told Civil Beat that the number of news articles about APEC has skyrocketed in the last two days, resulting in “astronomical” international exposure for Hawaii.
– Vietnam President Tryong Tan Sang said his nation is ready to build a strategic partnership between Washington and Hanoi, taking peace and reconciliation to the next level.
ON THE STREETS:
– Protesters in bikinis gathered at Waikiki Beach to voice their disapproval of APEC.
– Anti-APEC protesters began gearing up and painting signs early in the afternoon for a 4 p.m. march fromStadium Park. Organizers expect between 200 and 500 to show up for the rally.
– Also at Stadium Park, a group of Vietnamese gathered for a march to the Hale Koa, to protest human rights violations in Vietnam.
– Civil Beat found that Chinese journalists won’t report on the Falun Gong protests against the Chinese government.
– The Kalakaua entrance into Waikiki was closed off from about 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. to deal with a suspicious item.
— Katherine Poythress
Posted by on at 4:30PM HST (5 hours ago)
The protest march from Stadium Park to the Hale Koa Hotel has begun.
Anti-APEC groups along with protesters seeking more freedom for Vietnam are making their presence felt. Demonstrators started to move about 4:15 p.m.
— Nick Castele
Posted by on at 4:20PM HST (5 hours ago)
Waving the flags of South Vietnam and the United States, more than 60 people rallied at Stadium Park to protest Vietnamese communism.
Many were members of the Vietnamese immigrant community. The rally lasted about an hour and a half. It opened with both the U.S. and Vietnamese national anthems. Throughout the rally, there were speeches and patriotic Vietnamese songs.
Lang Than Tham, 61, said she is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. She addressed the group in Vietnamese and later told this reporter that she spoke out against Chinese aggression in Vietnam.
“I feel this is an opportunity to take part in an effort to fight against Vietnamese communism,” she said.
Three police officers in dark uniforms held a video camcorder and appeared to be recording the entire Vietnamese rally. Once the rally began. Four officers arrived on bicycles. Seven officers in aloha shirts stood at the rally.
The protesters are chanting “Freedom for Vietnam” and “Human rights for Vietnam.”
– Nick Castele
Posted by on at 4:19PM HST (5 hours ago)
Prime Minister Henry Noa of the Reinstated Hawaiian Kingdom and others in the group have been protesting in front of the King David Kalakaua statue at Kuhio Ave in Waikiki. He said the group is hoping to get the attention of APEC nation’s of their lawful existence.
Posted by on at 3:57PM HST (6 hours ago)
Attendees of the APEC CEO Summit at the Sheraton Waikiki are on a “coffee break” until 3:50 p.m.
In addition to fruit and mini desserts, organizers have laid out some local snacks for attendees to nosh on.
There’s edamame and taro chips alongside caramel popcorn. U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono was spotted snagging some snacks.
Up next on the summit agenda at 4 p.m.: “2020 Vision: The Future. Redefined” with a chief researcher from Microsoft and the managing director of The World Bank.
— Nanea Kalani
Posted by on at 3:49PM HST (6 hours ago)
More than 50 journalists, including local ones Jai Cunningham, Catherine Cruz, Ramsay Wharton, B.J. Reyesand Dennis Oda, are holed up in the loading area at the Hawaii Convention Center.
Because we are covering the greeting of President and Mrs. Obama of APEC leaders and spouses at tonight’sHale Koa Leaders’ Dinner, all of our bags have been searched thoroughly — much more thoroughly than TSA baggage screeners. Cameramen, for example, were required to turn on their cameras.
The media was required to report at 2:30 p.m. for an event that does not begin until 6:15 p.m. That event, located at the hotel’s Maile Garden, will only last 45 minutes. We’ve just been handed a diagram showing where the journalists will stand on a 2-tier, and where POTUS and FLOTUS will do the greetings.
— Chad Blair
Posted by on at 3:44PM HST (6 hours ago)
You might think of motorcades as being necessary to take important people to important meetings.
Well, Saturday in Waikiki there was a motorcade to take women shopping at the Coach store.
– John Hook
Posted by on at 3:33PM HST (6 hours ago)
This is the scene at Stadium Park before the march to the Hale Koa begins.
Posted by on at 3:27PM HST (6 hours ago)
Security surrounds every access point to Waikiki’s Hale Koa hotel, where 21 world leaders including President Barack Obama will gather this evening for a dinner.
The Honolulu Police Department, Coast Guard, Secret Service, Air Force — they’re all posted at points throughout Ena Road, Kalakaua, Saratoga and side roads throughout the area.
A chain link fence covered with a black tarp blocks the view of Fort Derussy. While the whole area is on lockdown, there appears to be a lack of coordination as frustrated hotel guests try to gain access to the beach and shops and the media tries to find the right checkpoints for access to the Hale Koa.
“It’s a mess,” said G. Montaldo of the Honolulu Police Department. “Even the Secret Service isn’t sure what’s going on.”
– Sophie Cocke
Posted by on at 3:18PM HST (6 hours ago)
Police have just reopened Kalakaua Avenue at Ala Wai and we are moving again, even if slowly.
Apparently the suspicious item has been dealt with.
— Nanea Kalani
Posted by on at 3:04PM HST (7 hours ago)
About 40 people — mostly nicely dressed middle-aged Vietnamese — are gathered at Stadium Park for a pre-march rally.
The Vietnamese group plans a series of speeches and songs aimed at protesting human rights violations by the Vietnamese government. Then they’ll join other APEC protest groups for a march to the Hale Koa in Waikiki, where President Obama and other world leaders are meeting as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
The group at the park is holding signs and flags from the old South Vietnamese government — yellow with horizontal red stripes across the middle. They say the flag represents democracy and human rights.
Organizers said word of the gathering was spread through Vietnames television and radio, and of course via Facebook.
Many of those participating in the rally are wearing khakis and aloha shirts, well-dressed as protesters go these days.
The sound system is up and speecehs are expected to begin soon. Then the plan is to join the other protest groups and head off for Hale Koa at 4 p.m.
— Nick Castele
Posted by on at 2:45PM HST (7 hours ago)
If you’re planning to head into Waikiki via Kalakaua Avenue, find another route.
Police closed off Kalakaua Avenue at McCully with police tape around 2 p.m. It’s unclear —at least to this reporter stuck in the traffic on an APEC shuttle — why Kalakaua has been closed.
Several plain-clothes officers are peering through binoculars down Kalakaua into Waikiki.
But a text from Honolulu police asked people to avoid the area of Ala Wai and Kalakaua due to a suspicious item. That intersection ans well as the intersection of Ala Wai and McCully have been closed and police suggest an alternate route.
Several plain-clothes officers are peering through binoculars down Kalakaua into Waikiki.
— Nanea Kalani
Posted by on at 2:25PM HST (7 hours ago)
Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz tells Civil Beat that a Google search of “APEC Hawaii” turns up 6,500 articles, up from 2,500 yesterday.
“International exposure astronomical,” he texted. “By the end we expect more than 10 thousand news articles. What is it worth to Hawaii?”
The LG also says state officials have had an “incredibly productive meeting with tourism leaders” and U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson. “He absolutely understands visa issue now.”
— Chad Blair
Posted by on at 2:05PM HST (8 hours ago)
An anti-APEC march isn’t scheduled to start until 4 p.m. today, but organizers have already set up camp in Stadium Park.
More than 10 people painted signs with anti-APEC slogans under a large tent and then held them up to passing motorists on King Street. A few cars honked as they passed, and one driver shouted in approval.
Four police officers wearing aloha shirts watched from a few feet away. Police said they expect 100 to 200 people at the rally and will call in more officers as the crowd grows larger.
Liz Rees, 40, from World Can’t Wait Hawaii, one of the organizers of the march, said she was there to protest globalization and the city’s treatment of the homeless.
“They kept assuring people there would be no sweeps, there would be no round-ups,” she said. “And yet the area around Waikiki there are no homeless.”
Organizers’ estimates for the size of the march varied from 200 to 500. They said they would try to get as close to the Hale Koa, where the APEC leaders are meeting this evening, once the march starts.
– Nick Castele
Posted by on at 1:41PM HST (8 hours ago)
President Barack Obama spoke to a group of global business executives at the APEC CEO Summit at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel this morning.
He shared his outlook on the global economy, the U.S. priority in maintaining political and economic stability in Asia, trade agreements and dealings with China.
Obama, who was born in Hawaii and has made several leisurely visits in recent years, said that it was his first time in Hawaii wearing a suit.
“This is my birthplace,” the president said. “I know that was contested for awhile. I can actually show you the hospital (I was born in) if you want.”
The president wore a black suit with a black-and-white striped tie.
– Pool report
Posted by on at 1:35PM HST (8 hours ago)
President Barack Obama said he was “extremely impressed” by the “boldness” of Japan Prime MinisterYoshihiko Noda’s vision.
“The importance for both of our countries—” Obama said, according to a transcript provided by the White House. “The alliance between the United States and Japan is the cornerstone of our relationship but also for security in the Asia-Pacific region for a very long time.”
Ahead of Obama’s bilateral meeting with Noda, the president also expressed support for Japan, and said that Americans stand behind Japan as it rebuilds from the March earthquake and tsunami.
According to pool reports — accounts provided by reporters assigned to cover the president’s every move — Noda spoke about Hawaii’s beauty, and described his visit to Punchbowl for a wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday morning.
“I’m very much encouraged by the fact that America is increasing its presence in the Asia-Pacific region,” Noda said via a translator. “And I do believe that Japan and the United States must work closely together to establish economic goals and also establish security order in this region.“
Posted by on at 1:29PM HST (8 hours ago)
One of President Barack Obama’s advisers briefed the press about Obama’s Saturday morning meeting with members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
The TPP is a Pacific Rim free trade agreement aimed at spurring economic growth.
Mike Froman, deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs, called Obama’s meeting with TPP members “terrific.”
Froman said that TPP members talked about how to maintain the high standards of their agreement, and how to handle interest from additional countries.
Japan Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda made news at APEC when he announced that his country would join talks on the multilateral TPP agreement.
“There was broad agreement in the room that leaders see the TPP as an open platform,” Froman said, according to Wall Street Journal reporter Laura Meckler.
From Meckler: Froman said there is a “long history of trade issues with Japan,” and suggested that Japan will have to get over hurdles on agriculture, services and manufacturing to make this deal work.
Posted by on at 1:21PM HST (8 hours ago)
Ala Moana Center looks like it does any other weekend — busy with shoppers milling about on the mall level. In the parking lot, cars were circling for a coveted stall.
The road closures that came with the APEC meetings happening next door at the Hawaii Convention Center and in Waikiki don’t seem to have deterred shoppers much.
Shoppers appeared to be mostly residents and Japanese tourists. Visitors from Japan were spotted toting shopping bags from Coach, Tiffany’s, Neiman Marcus.
— Nanea Kalani
Posted by on at 1:20PM HST (8 hours ago)
Authorities have taken over the parking lot at Paki and Mosarrat, at the Ewa end of Kapiolani Park, and put up shelters in the parking lot. Ambulances are parked there. Police are parking in a nearby parking lot.
Posted by on at 12:45PM HST (9 hours ago)
Michelle Obama is scheduled to be touring Ma‘o Farms in Waianae at this hour. One onlooker said, via Twitter, that she saw keiki greeting the first lady as she arrived:
Posted by on at 12:39PM HST (9 hours ago)
If you’ve been in Waikiki lately, you already know that they’re everywhere: Police, secret service and military personnel are out in full force on Saturday.
They’re on the beaches, in the streets, even in the ocean.
Agence France-Presse reports that Honolulu is seeing the “heaviest security since the wake of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor nearly 70 years ago.”
Read the .
Posted by on at 12:25PM HST (9 hours ago)
The United States is a Pacific power that’s “here to stay,” President Barack Obama said, according to Xinhua News.
In remarks at the APEC CEO Summit on Saturday morning, the president said that there is no region more vital to the U.S. than the Asia-Pacific, the news agency reported.
Read the
Posted by on at 12:14PM HST (9 hours ago)
Ala Moana Beach Park is almost unrecognizable this Saturday mid-morning.
No bouncy castles fill the grassy park. The smell of charcoal and keawe wood are noticeable absent. Picnic tables sit empty.
Only three surfers are out at Concessions; none at Kaisers. No stand-up paddle boarders are out in the water. No fisherman line Magic Island’s rock barriers.
The majority of the beach’s white sandy shoreline is exposed, as only a few sunbathers are lying out. The usual joggers and runners have been replaced by uniformed National Guards officers patrolling the park in pairs.
Police vehicles fill the entire Magic Island parking lot. Blue and white buses and vans marked “POLICE” are parked toward the center of the park, along with Humvees and other military vehicles.
A woman working the concession stand nearest Magic Island says she’s been slow all week.
If you can find parking nearby, it’s a perfect beach day — lots of sunshine and a cool breeze. Not to mention you’ll practically have the beach to yourself.
— Nanea Kalani
Posted by on at 12:01PM HST (10 hours ago)
China President Hu Jintao is emphasizing innovation as a driver of growth at APEC.
Hu is also speaking out against regulations, and said that he believes China should ”firmly oppose and jointly resist protectionism of all forms,” .
Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper talked about his country’s commercial expansion into the Asia-Pacific region as fruitful. Harper said Canada is maximizing trade opportunities, and attracting investment to Canada as a result.
Read the from Reuters.
Posted by on at 11:48AM HST (10 hours ago)
President Barack Obama signed into law the in Honolulu on Saturday.
The law makes it easier for government and business leaders from APEC’s 21 member economies to travel to other APEC countries.
It was introduced by Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, along with Washington Democrat Sen. Maria Cantwell.
Posted by on at 11:30AM HST (10 hours ago)
World Can’t Wait has sent out a message to supporters about today’s protest march.
“This is a legal, non-violent march, and will be on the sidewalk. We expect a large crowd so there may be several routes to Ala Moana Blvd, where we’ll hold signs and chant. Bring your own signs or make your own at the park if you come early enough. Bring noisemakers. We’ll have lots of paint. A number of organizations have indicated that they will be joining this march. A Vietnamese Community organization expects to bring out more than 200 people; Local 5 expects to have a contingent; Moananui organizers have said they’ll be there. Many UH students and faculty will be on board, along with new friends we’ve only recently met.
“This will be our chance to show the world that the people of Hawai`i stand with them in opposing the horrors of APEC’s policies, which have caused such misery for people and the destruction of the planet. So make sure your signs send a strong message!
“We’ll also be at Old Stadium Park from 8am. Stop by the tent to hold signs along King Street, make signs, beat on drums, or talk together about APEC policies and its effects on Hawai`i.”
Posted by on at 10:49AM HST (11 hours ago)
The headline on reads “Medvedev on Hawaii: Aloha Spirit.” But the Russian president isn’t quoted in the article, which talks about an informal dinner he attended.
“This year, for the first time in the summit’s history, the dinner was held at local homes. Russia’s leader Dmitry Medvedev visited the Punahou School – one of America’s oldest schools attended by 3,750 students. The US President Barack Obama finished it in 1979. It’s a beautiful building topped with solar panels. Medvedev was warmly greeted by the owner of the house who sang a welcoming school anthem. The atmosphere was purely Aloha Spirit, that is a traditional friendly attitude.
“Though the dinner was informal it focused on burning issues. The business delegation included Gazprom Head Alexei Miller, the US Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donahue, Boeing CEO James McNerney, the Bank of China Chief Xiao Gang and Google Chairman Eric Schmidt. The key issue on the agenda was the future of the global economy. Russia’s Kremlin aide Arkady Dvorkovich said that the participants agreed that the world would face a long –term slow growth and unemployment.”
Posted by on at 10:45AM HST (11 hours ago)
President Barack Obama is speaking at the APEC CEO Summit at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel this morning.
A handful of press members haven’t braved the trek into Waikiki and are covering the event from the media center at the Hawaii Convention Center. The president is being broadcast on three large screens in the center.
Obama made a comment early on that this is the first time he’s had to wear a suit while at home in Hawaii.
— Nanea Kalani
Posted by on at 10:41AM HST (11 hours ago)
Honolulu drivers are out and about this morning. The H-1 freeway is far from empty as of 8:45 a.m.
There’s enough traffic heading into town to keep speeds at 40 mph to 45 mph between the Vineyard and Punahou exits. Speeds looked about the same for westbound traffic on the freeway.
– Nanea Kalani
Posted by on at 9:03AM HST (13 hours ago)
Civil Beat scanned headlines from around the world to see what people are writing about APEC. There are three big topics emerging in international coverage thus far:
- The gap between the trade agendas of China and the United States
- Japan’s announcement that it will enter into Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks
- Europe’s economic woes
Read the complete story about what’s being reported, including links to coverage from China, the Philippines, Russia, New Zealand and more.
Then, catch up on earlier coverage of APEC with our .
Posted by on at 8:01AM HST (14 hours ago)
Windward Oahu residents are planning an Occupy Kualoa Regional Park event in Kaaawa this weekend.
Organizers say they want to spread a “keep the country country” message to first lady Michelle Obama and other APEC leaders who are scheduled to be in the area on Sunday.
Posted by on at 6:49AM HST (15 hours ago)
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave an interview to Fortune Magazine’s Nina Easton at the Sheraton in Waikiki on Friday.
Clinton spoke about women and their “right to fulfill their own economic potential.” She also joked about how her busy APEC schedule is keeping her from enjoying the sights of Hawaii.
“You come to a beautiful place like Hawaii and I spent – I don’t know – from about eight o’clock until about three o’clock inside windowless rooms,” Clinton said, according to a transcript. “And after a while, you just think, ‘There’s got to be another way to spend time in Hawaii.’”
Asked about her dream vacation destination, Clinton said it would take her “at least a decade” to decide.
Read the from Clinton’s interview.
Posted by on at 5:49AM HST (16 hours ago)
President Barack Obama has a day of high-level diplomatic meetings planned in Honolulu on Saturday.
Obama will start the day with a Trans-Pacific Partnership meeting at the Hale Koa. After that, he heads to the APEC Ceo Summit at the Sheraton.
In the afternoon, back at the Hale Koa, Obama and Japan Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will meet. Obama then has a bi-lateral meeting with Russia President Dmitry Medvedev, followed by a meeting with China President Hu Jintao.
Later, Obama and the first lady will host APEC leaders and their spouses in an arrival ceremony at the Hale Koa. A dinner with the Obamas will follow, along with a cultural reception and performance.
Posted by on at 5:29AM HST (16 hours ago)
Posted to Rep. Mazie Hirono’s Twitter account was this photo of the congresswoman greeting first ladyMichelle Obama in Honolulu Friday night.
Posted by on at 5:10AM HST (16 hours ago)
Early birds heading into Waikiki are advised to take Kapahulu Avenue, according to the City and County of Honolulu.
Posted by on at 5:04AM HST (17 hours ago)
Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle will spend most of Saturday at the Sheraton Waikiki for the APEC CEO Summit, according to the mayor’s office.
Carlisle will join Japan’s government leaders for a wreath-laying ceremony at Punchbowl at 8 a.m. He’ll then join Korea leaders for a separate wreath-laying ceremony at the cemetery.
Posted by on at 4:36AM HST (17 hours ago)
