Well now that the 2011 APEC Hawaii Summit is over some are wondering if it was worth it for our state to put out such taxpayers money for an event of this magnitude.
“…The actual APEC cost to state government totaled $3.2 million, 57 percent lower than the original projected cost of $7.5 million.Schatz said one reason for the lower APEC bills was that protesters during APEC were peaceful, and there were no arrests.”A lot of those funds, those expected expenditures, were in the case that something happened that had to be dealt with, whether it was mass arrests, or an air quality problem or a need for overtime for law enforcement officers,” Schatz said…
Despite the fact that it is well known that the State did stock up on pepper spray and other measures that could potentially cause harm to protestors, Lt. Governor Schatz stated the State will ask the Federal government for some reimbursements of the cost:
“We were one of the only national security special events in recent memory where there were no lawsuits, because we weren’t about to use law enforcement as a premise to shut down people’s ability to express their viewpoints,” he said.The state will ask the federal government for reimbursement for all the extra APEC security costs.
Councilwoman Brittany Smart and Mayor Kenoi sporting Big Island leis
The event lasted from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm and consisted of heavy Big Island pupus…
Big Island Grindz
I don’t have a breakdown of where the $90,000.00 may or may not have gone to… but I assume the Big Island entertainers that were brought there were paid such as Na Hoku Hanohano Award Winners Kuana Torres Kahele and Mark Yamanaka.
Big Island Musicians Rule!
And K’uipo Kumukahi:
Kuuipo Kumukahi
I can only assume that many county officials expenses were paid for such as air, hotel and car rental expenses… since they were there to “Promote the Big Island”.
Mayor Kenoi talks to a Washington DC Reporter while the cameras roll
Word went around the coconut wireless that folks were to wear clothes that represented the Big Island and I sure saw a lot of Sig Zane Design clothes there!
Mayor Kenoi and his wife along with Lt. Governor Brian Schatz sporting Sig Zane Designs Clothing from the Big Island
And for those who may wonder… I did not use any taxpayers money in covering the APEC event! Mahalo to my sponsors for covering the majority of my expenses!
Related articles
- A Celebration of Hawaii Island… APEC Style (damontucker.com)
- County of Hawaii Gets New “Rag” – Mayor Kenoi Joins Twitter and Facebook (damontucker.com)
- Mayor Kenoi at APEC 2011 (damontucker.com)
- Wordless Wednesday – Bringing the Big Island to APEC 2011 (damontucker.com)
- APEC VIDEO: Hawaii County Awardee for Hawaii Business Innovation Showcase – Big Island Carbon (damontucker.com)
- Big Island Coffee Growers Favor APEC Free Trade Deal (damontucker.com)
- UH Mighty Micromouse on Display at APEC (damontucker.com)
- Lt. Governor Brian Schatz – “Why China Matters to Hawaii” (damontucker.com)
- Leaders Week TV – Aloha APEC Delegates (damontucker.com)
- President Obama’s Speech Before Makana Sang His “Occupy With Aloha” Protest Song at the APEC World Leaders Dinner (damontucker.com)
- Lawmakers Told by Governor’s & Mayor’s Office that Roundup of Homeless Will Not Occur Prior to the APEC Summit (damontucker.com)
Filed under: aloha, APEC, Big Island, Economy, State Affairs, Tourism Tagged: | 2011 APEC, APEC, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Big Island, Expenditures, Hawaii County, Mayor Kenoi
Just getting around to your posts – this event looked like a great showcase for the Big Island! Thanks for attending and reporting – didn’t see any mention of it in our two papers…but then again, what do they really report?!?!
Glad Mayor Kenoi was able to show everyone what our island is made of and what we represent! Time to change the marketing efforts and this was the perfect time to do it!
Kudos for all involved and big ups to you, Damon, for staying on top of it!
Damon, yup, you’ve got us wondering.
From above:
“And for those who may wonder… I did not use any taxpayers money in covering the APEC event! Mahalo to my sponsors for covering the majority of my expenses!”
And from your 11/6/11 post (http://damontucker.com/2011/11/06/a-celebration-of-hawaii-island-apec-style/ “):
“And just in case anyone is wondering… I’m paying my own travel expenses and not getting paid to attend this APEC 2011 Conference!”
The earlier post — which surprise, surprise, is not listed among the above “related articles — was obviously shibai. Is it any wonder why your credibility is an issue?
The “Related” articles are automatically generated by WordPress.
I did pay my own travel expenses… the only thing I didn’t pay for was my airfare which was provided by Go!Mokulele Airlines for their sponsorship of my site.
I paid for my own room at the Waikiki Sand Villa at a cost of over $350 bucks (I can’t remember exact cost as I post this as my bill changed because I asked to get an extra night for Wednesday night).
I paid all my taxi fares… and I paid $50.00 bucks for parking at the Hilo Airport out of my own pocket.
My conference fees were waived by the APEC Committee. My food I ate was part of the conference… however on several occasions I did treat myself to food in Waikiki which was also out of my own pocket.
If you will see in the post…. I did link to that night!
I was invited as well as other members of the APEC Media to the Big Island reception… You can ask anyone that attended… that I didn’t even accept a “LEI”… or have any alcohol at the event which was also paid for… although I couldn’t help myself but to grind on some of those pupus!
The notice lists the Big Island Economic Development Board and the Big Island Visitor’s Bureau as sponsors. What makes you suspect it was county money that was used?
The county funds the BIVB. Did you click on the Department of Financing snippet?
So account for it, seems simple enough to me.
#1 Vanda orchid lei $3.00 etc.
and that lei did not come from the Big Island it came from Thailand.
That leaves $89,997.00 to account for.
Cost of accountant to keep the books straight, $5,000
That leaves $84,997.00
tell me is that Michael the Aussie married (?) to Melissa, get back to me man – Ian