APEC Wrap-up. (You know you want to look - it's Hawaii PICS)

[ellisonz]

Honolulu Mayor: Secret Service Frowns Too Much

By Michael Levine 11/17/2011

Let's just say Honolulu officials are pleased with how APEC went.

So pleased, in fact, that Mayor Peter Carlisle's lone gripe about the week-long economic summit is that visiting U.S. Secret Service agents didn't smile enough.

"I think that there is sometimes with certain parts of the federal government, a sort of a 'let's say no' rather than work the problem, and I'm speaking specifically about some of the behavior of some of the members of the Secret Service," Carlisle said Wednesday.

"I don't think it's a good idea to have people who are frowning all the time. I think that that ends up annoying people and being confrontational."

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/17/13916-honolulu-mayor-secret-service-frowns-too-much/

Honolulu Police Load Up on Taser Ammo, Pepper Spray, Bean Bags for APEC

Twenty-five-thousand pepper spray projectiles for nearly $90,000. Eighteen-thousand units of bean bag ammunition for more than $60,000. Three-thousand Taser cartridges for another $60,000.

And a special, $13,000, long-range loudspeaker typically used to communicate authoritatively from a distance — for example from military helicopters to pirates at sea.

Those items are just a sampling of the Honolulu Police Department's lengthy shopping list in preparation for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this November. (We share the full list at the bottom of this article.)

In all, the department requested1 more than $700,000 in so-called "non-lethal" or "less-lethal" weapon technologies in the last two years, according to Civil Beat's analysis of records obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii under the state's open records law. The ACLU provided Civil Beat with 42 pages of requests and invoices it received from the city.

http://www.civilbeat.com/posts/2011/09/26/12961-honolulu-police-load-up-on-taser-ammo-pepper-spray-bean-bags-for-apec/

Staying 'out of sight, out of mind'

By Mary Vorsino
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 11, 2011

Bruce McLellan, 47 -- taking cover under cardboard boxes at a traffic island off Nimitz Highway in Iwilei -- has moved to four different locations recently because of the heightened security measures around Honolulu.

As world leaders began to arrive in Honolulu on Thursday, homeless people in the urban core appeared to be keeping a low profile, largely staying out of Waikiki and off several main roads.

In Iwilei, homeless encampments had shifted to side streets, though there were a few people set up on a small green space on Nimitz Highway westbound across from Kmart. Some predicted they would have to relocate soon.

"I've had to move four times," said Bruce McLellan, who was trying to catch a nap in the grassy area Thursday morning. The 47-year-old, who has been homeless for two years, said he had been moved from Kakaako and spots in Iwilei in recent weeks.

------

Residents and groups that help homeless people said sweeps in the weeks leading up to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings pushed the homeless from Waikiki and off main APEC travel routes.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/apec2011/apecstories/20111111_Staying_out_of_sight_out_of_mind.html?id=133677723

If Prostitutes Flooded Waikiki for APEC, Arrests Don't Show It
By Nanea Kalani 11/15/2011
Sara Lin/Civil Beat

Judging by the thousands of "non-lethal" projectiles amassed by Honolulu police, and the blaring headlines forecasting an influx of prostitutes to Waikiki for APEC, you'd think HPD's booking log would be overflowing with arrests.

Yet, Honolulu police made only seven arrests in Waikiki during the week-long APEC summit — all for nonviolent crimes, and none for prostitution.

It's not like there weren't any prostitutes working the streets of Waikiki during APEC.

Civil Beat on Friday night visited "the track" on Kuhio where prostitutes are known to pick up customers. Around 10 p.m., there were at least five women who appeared to be prostitutes walking the streets wearing their signature lucite stilettos. Two cop cars parked outside the Waikiki Trade Center for most of the night paid them no heed.

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/15/13876-if-prostitutes-flooded-waikiki-for-apec-arrests-dont-show-it/

Hawaii, China Agree to Clean Energy Projects at APEC Forum
By The Civil Beat Staff 11/14/2011

Sophie Cocke/Civil Beat

Hawaii could see a boost to its portfolio of clean energy projects under an informal agreement with Chinese officials in town for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a letter of intent Sunday night with the vice chairman of the China Council for Promotion of International Trade, Yu Ping. The agreement followed an energy summit earlier in the day where more than 200 executives from local and Chinese energy companies convened at the Hawaii State Capitol.

"We set out to do business with China and I believe this past weekend, we've accomplished a first step in moving towards a direction of mutual economic growth in the area of clean energy," Abercrombie said in a statement Monday. "Mr. Ping was very excited to enter into an agreement in which the state of Hawaii and China will pursue clean energy business projects in the near future."

But exactly what those future business projects could entail is still being worked out, according to a spokeswoman for the governor.

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/14/13881-hawaii-china-agree-to-clean-energy-projects-at-apec-forum/

The Aloha Shirt That Obama Didn't Wear
By Adrienne LaFrance 11/14/2011

Courtesy Tori Richard

WASHINGTON — The White House repeatedly warned the company that it hired to design special aloha shirts for world leaders attending APEC that the shirts might not be used in the traditional APEC "family photo."

Indeed, President Barack Obama said on Sunday that he decided to "break tradition" by not doing a photo op in which APEC leaders don matching outfits representing the host location. (Check out a photo gallery of past leaders' matching outfits.)

The decision got wide play in international news reports, with headlines like "No aloha: Obama Skips Out on APEC Tradition" and "Family Photo Taken Without 'Coconut Bras'".

Tori Richard's CEO, Josh Feldman, told Civil Beat that the decision was a disappointment to his company, which the White House commissioned to design and produce the shirts that were not worn. Feldman also said it was not wholly unexpected.

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/14/13873-the-aloha-shirt-that-obama-didnt-wear/

Chinese Journalists Won't Report on Falun Gong Protests
By Diane S.W. Lee 11/12/2011

It sounded like an easy assignment from my editor: embed with Chinese journalists covering the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting. Follow Chinese journalists for a day. I would tell what their day was like covering the APEC meeting in Hawaii in both a story and video.

I had an advantage, because I am Chinese and I look like them. I would have something to talk to them about, because I've traveled to Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Beijing. I could show off my fluent Chinese language skills in Cantonese. I could ask them if they've been to Chinatown yet, whether they wanted any recommendations for places to eat. It would be a fun assignment!

But my mission was a lot harder than I expected.

I started off introducing myself to journalists in the Hawaii Convention Center's press room. I tried to strike up a conversation: "Aloha, how are you? I'm Diane, with the local media. How is your stay here so far? Where are you from?"

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/12/13815-chinese-journalists-wont-report-on-falun-gong-protests/

Obama to China: Behave like a "grown up"
ReutersBy Matt Spetalnick and Doug Palmer | Reuters – Mon, Nov 14, 2011

HONOLULU (Reuters) - President Barack Obama served notice on Sunday that the United States was fed up with China's trade and currency practices as he turned up the heat on America's biggest economic rival.

"Enough's enough," Obama said bluntly at a closing news conference of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit where he scored a significant breakthrough in his push to create a pan-Pacific free trade zone and promote green technologies.

Using some of his toughest language yet against China, Obama, a day after face-to-face talks with President Hu Jintao, demanded that China stop "gaming" the international system and create a level playing field for U.S. and other foreign businesses.

"We're going to continue to be firm that China operate by the same rules as everyone else," Obama told reporters after hosting the 21-nation APEC summit in his native Honolulu. "We don't want them taking advantage of the United States."

http://news.yahoo.com/apec-leaders-seek-firewall-against-europe-crisis-003311439.html

US President Barack Obama has announced the broad outlines of a plan to create a trans-Pacific free trade zone at an annual regional summit in Hawaii.

13 November 2011 Last updated at 00:02 ET

"I'm confident we can get this done," Mr Obama said at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) talks.

Nine Apec nations are involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), but China has so far not expressed interest in joining the talks.

In all, 21 Apec countries account for about 44% of global trade.

They also make up some 40% of the world's population.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15704358

Leaders: Asia-Pacific free trade vital to recovery
ELAINE KURTENBACH, AP Business Writer
Updated 04:32 a.m., Monday, November 14, 2011

KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) — Opening markets to freer trade is crucial to a lasting global economic recovery, Asia-Pacific leaders agreed Sunday as they wrapped up a summit that produced tangible progress toward a U.S.-backed regional trade bloc.

The plan to forge a Pacific free trade area got a big boost Sunday when leaders of Canada and Mexico joined Japan in expressing support for a deal that has received a cool reception from rising power China.

The news was a coup for President Barack Obama, who made progress on the pact one of his top priorities for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, held in his home state of Hawaii. It comes after Japan, the world's No. 3 economy, said Friday it wants to join the nine nations already involved in talks on what has been dubbed the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

In their summit declaration, leaders of the 21-member APEC said the region is now the vanguard for global growth thanks to previous progress in forging closer economic ties and free trade.

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Leaders-Asia-Pacific-free-trade-vital-to-recovery-2267210.php#ixzz1e3D16n5O

APEC leaders agree to slash tariffs on environmental goods
Save this story to read later

By Malcolm Farr, National political editor
news.com.au
November 15, 2011 6:09AM

AUSTRALIA'S water-conserving shower heads are set to clean up in Asia and the Pacific following an APEC agreement to cut tariffs on environmental goods.

"This is unambiguously good news for Australia,'' said Prime Minister Julia Gillard today at the APEC summit in Honolulu.

Ms Gillard said the APEC members agreed to cut tariffs on environmental goods to five per cent, and that Australia has no tariff protections on these items, including solar panels, wind turbine gear boxes, fuel cells, to water saving shower devices.

"What that means is we won't experience any of the pain that would come from those tariff reductions but we will experience the better of being able to get environmental products which we produce into the economies of APEC with less of a tariff load,'' she said.

The agreement was part of a push against protectionism, which grows at times of global economic instability, by the APEC nations at the summit opened by US President Barack Obama.

http://www.news.com.au/business/apec-leaders-agree-to-slash-tariffs-on-environmental-goods/story-e6frfm1i-1226194657736#ixzz1e3CCiJ6x

Leaders share isle values while respecting delegates' customs
By Allison Schaefers
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 06, 2011

"It's a cultural challenge having all of these different economies here. We have to meet everything from their service expectations to diet and other restrictions."
Kelly Sanders
Sheraton Waikiki general manager, center, shown with Brian Hunnings, area director of Starwood Hawaii, left, and Matthew Grauso, Sheraton Waikiki hotel manager

Hawaii planners of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit did not forget that the aloha spirit is a state law or that it's proper to visit Oahu's Royal Mausoleum to ask the blessing of Hawaii's buried monarchs before pursuing a new course like bringing a world-class event to Oahu.

Culturally, they knew that a bag of $1.99 li hing mui was the gift to send with their APEC application since President Barack Obama, who was born and raised here, would review it.

"The look on his chief aide's face was ‘What the hell is this?'" said Tim Johns, vice chairman of the APEC 2011 Hawaii Host Committee. "I said, ‘It's seed, you eat it.' He said, ‘I don't think that I can get this through the food security detail.' I said it would strike a chord and remind him of his youth."

APEC's Hawaii Host Committee approached everything from bidding on the event to planning and executing it in a uniquely Hawaii style. They draped U.S. Secret Service and U.S. State Department and APEC's top planning officials and delegation emissaries with lei. At meetings they wore flowered shirts and dresses instead of business suits, gave hugs, held hands and offered up pule (Hawaiian blessings). They shared Hawaiian music, dance and food and at every turn incorporated into APEC one of the state's main tourism marketing messages, "The people of Hawaii would like to share their islands with you."

APEC boosts isles' image as serious meeting place
By Andrew Gomes
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 15, 2011

Early indications are the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference might not have drawn 20,000 visitors nor added $165 million to the economy as forecast, but it likely gave Hawaii something of more value: a new image.

The state showed it can handle a conference of global political and business leaders that dispels a common notion that Hawaii is no place for serious meetings.

"That's the primary payout," said Leroy Laney, an economics and finance professor at Hawaii Pacific University. "I think in that regard it's a success."

Even the decision by President Barack Obama to forgo wearing aloha shirts for a photo of leaders from 21 nations, which some bemoaned as a blow to Hawaiiana, may have been just what the state needed.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/apec2011/apecstories/20111115_APEC_boosts_isles_image_as_serious_meeting_place.html?id=133865643

As security eases, so does the community's mood

By Kevin Dayton

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 15, 2011

After all of the roadblocks and searches, the speeding convoys of limousines, the road closures and those solemn nods from polite Secret Service agents, Waikiki began to return to normal Monday.

There were still some lane closures, traffic snarls and other remnants of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, but visitors and residents seemed to be shrugging off the weekend's events and getting on with their business or fun.

Van driver Richard Cummings, 57, was tasked with transporting staff and executives from Taiwan's delegation to several events. His 24-passenger van was part of some white-knuckle convoys that raced through red lights during the weekend to get dignitaries to their destinations, but Monday found him parked quietly near the Hilton Hawaiian Village, waiting for a new assignment.

"I'm glad it's over, because it takes all of the security out of here, but it was interesting, let's put it that way," Cummings said. "It's the first time I've seen something that had so many security implications."

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/apec2011/apecstories/20111115_As_security_eases_so_does_the_communitys_mood.html?id=133865013

Federal agent appears in District Court on murder charge
By Gregg K. Kakesako
POSTED: 09:17 a.m. HST, Nov 17, 2011

After his court appearance, Christopher Deedy, holding hands with his wife Stephanie, walked out of the courtroom and were confronted in the District Court elevator by a woman holding a sign with a picture of shooting victim Kollin Elderts.

The 27-year-old State Department special agent accused of killing a 23-year-old Kailua man following an early morning argument in Waikiki appeared in District Court this morning, accompanied by his wife and defense attorney Brook Hart.

Christopher Deedy, dressed in dark business suit and light blue tie, did not speak during his brief appearance nor did he talk to reporters afterward.

He and his wife, Stephanie, sat in the second row of the seventh-floor courtroom with his bail bondsman during the hearing.

Deedy’s appearance was scheduled after he was released on $250,000 bail following his arrest Nov. 5, on the eve of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/134054963.html?id=134054963

More Local and National Coverage: http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/apec2011/
International coverage and main point roundup: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/14/13871-apec-news-coverage-wrap-obama-press-conference-europe-woes/

[xchrom]

1. aloha hawai'i! apec does indeed suck!

:applause:

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. kick nom n/t

[ellisonz]

3. Relevant DU Posts (Thank you to everybody who posted, you know who you are):

Obama Calls Waterboarding 'Torture' At APEC News Conference

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5058472

OCCUPY WITH ALOHA: Makana at the APEC Dinner, Hawaii

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x635060

Makana Occupies APEC Summit - CNN Report

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x634594

11 charged over Chaser APEC stunt

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2979782

APEC closures and restrictions released, Honolulu locked up

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2252379

Moana nui 2011, the alternate to APEC conference

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2250361

Free-trade agreements Opening up the Pacific

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x637707

Asia-Pacific Leaders Deal with Global Economic Trouble at APEC Conference

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2289882

Hillary Clinton Gets A 'Hawai'i Surprise'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2300149

Obama seeks to hitch U.S. economy to Asian growth

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5057399

Did you guys know that a federal agent walked into a McDonalds and shot a kanaka maoli kid here?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2283416

[dkf]

4. Nice.

All it is missing is a pic of Hillary's "streaker". Lol.

[ellisonz]

6. You and I both know he wasn't streaking - he had one malo.

Chester Centino has been lighting Tiki torches around the Hilton Hawaiian village with a flame for seven years - and saw no reason to stop.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15769836

[ensho]

5. thanks so much for the pics and texts, otherwise we would never

know or see what happened

[ellisonz]

10. Hawaii is a "foreign land" to many.

Except for Pearl Harbor - that's "ours."

[woo me with science]

7. Kudos to the Hawaii 99 percenters and your wonderful protests! nt

[Octafish]

8. Thank you, ellisonz!

Excellent report and images. Judging by who benefits most by official policies, it is clear Washington works perfectly well for the well-off of the world.

[ellisonz]

9. You're welcome!

Honolulu is like a microcosm of the rest of the nation. Just last year - the workers at the Hilton Hawaiian Village where Hillary got had her laughing moment was on strike. Over the last decade, the corporate-owned hotels have seen an increase in tourism from the post-9/11 dive, have made a pretty profit but not added to the labor force or increased investment into Hawaii's tourism industry while attempting to break the hotel unions. 6,000 Starwood hotel workers stayed on the job for 6 months without a new contract - they had already hired the scabs before the union accepted a lesser deal.

Hawaii makes little investment in protecting the environment that is the basis of its tourist industry ranging from depletion of reef fish for the aquarium trade to dilapidated park facilities to invasive species abatement.

From September:

Hyatt workers go on strike
By Star-Advertiser staff
POSTED: 05:41 a.m. HST, Sep 08, 2011

Watanabe said nearly 500 union workers -- including housekeepers, bellmen, front desk and food and beverage employees -- have been without a contract since June of last year.

In June, unionized Hyatt workers voted to call for a public boycott of the hotel. Other job actions included a one-day strike and civil disobedience by union members in front of the Hyatt.

-------

“It’s not just about wages and benefits. Its much more than that,” Watanabe said. “It’s about workers being able to come together against what we believe is the worst employer in the industry,” Watanabe said.

Westenhaver said management offered Hyatt workers a wage and benefit package identical to the offer to Hilton and Starwood workers that was accepted by union workers at those hotels in March.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/129458858.html

[ellisonz]

11. Evening Kick.

:pals: