Hosting APEC cost Honolulu less than $21M

By Associated Press

POSTED: 07:38 a.m. HST, Feb 10, 2012
LAST UPDATED: 07:44 a.m. HST, Feb 10, 2012

PHOTO BY DENNIS ODA

City crews work to close roads and restrict access to roads near the Convention Center in preparation for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

Mayor Peter Carlisle says it cost Honolulu less than half the budgeted $43 million to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

Final costs for hosting APEC in November were calculated this week. Carlisle says the price tag ended up being less than $21 million.

APEC expenses included paying for supplies and equipment and ensuring the safety of dignitaries such as President Barack Obama. The city has applied for federal reimbursement for some of the costs.

The savings will offset increased electricity and fuel costs for city operations.

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kawika72 wrote:

Who set the budget? Was it set using Hawaii taxpayer's money? If so, aren't we still $21 million "in the hole"! Where was the so called savings. Taxpayers still paid for APEC. Don't go around saying that there was a savings here. Now, it may have been different if the Federal Government GAVE Hawaii $43 million to host APEC. Then I can see that we had a savings that can be used for better causes. Another BIG "shibai" by our leaders. Guess what... you're not fooling anybody!!!

on February 10,2012 | 06:55AM

honopic wrote:

When it comes to money taken out of the pockets of Honolulu taxpayers, I don't believe anything that starts with "Mayor Peter Carlisle SAYS it cost....." He throws numbers in the millions of dollars around like it's a game, and if it makes him look good, he'll make any number up. Then, after claiming he"saved" us money, he'll keep it and say something like "The savings will offset increased electricity and fuel costs for city operations." Which means, of course, another untraceable black hole.

on February 10,2012 | 07:05AM

Leewardboy wrote:

1 on Kawkia72 & honopic's comments. Shibai!! is the appropriate term for the so-called "savings". We didn't save anything - we spent $21 million! Of course he doesn't mention several City and State departments and agencies' budgets won't be balanced unless and until the Federal government reimburses Honolulu and Hawaii for monies spent. Wait!! Isn't the Federal money "our" money too? Auwe! YMMV

on February 10,2012 | 07:50AM

fairgame947 wrote:

That whole APEC thing was a joke on the taxpayers of Honolulu. The hotels may have made some money, but the restaurant owners near the convention center lost big time. The entire expense should have been Federal. Of course, we taxpayers are still footing some of the bill, but at least with Fed participation it would have been spread out differently. I hope we are never "honored" with another APEC!!!

on February 10,2012 | 08:36AM

allie wrote:

APEC was, as we know, a total waste of time and money. Nothing has or will coem of it. Many delegates left early as there was nothing important to do here.

on February 10,2012 | 09:10AM

fiveo wrote:

Wjhat a joke APEC was. Just Carlisle and company glad-handing themselves on the back for not spending all the money that was allocated. As it was, they spent way too much on security for which there were no real threats: only imagined. Just another exercise to practice the use of heavy handed police tactics against the general public.

on February 10,2012 | 10:57AM

Leewardboy wrote:

Tried to post comment earlier this morning but it's being checked for appropriateness(??) - been hours now. Guess "shibai" is now a banned word. Or maybe those checking don't know what it means. "Shibai" - from the Japanese for play acting - fake, a fraud, sleight of hand, effort to fool someone or hide something, smokescreen to obscure reality. Or maybe they don't know what "YMMV" is - "Your mileage may vary" - means you may see things differently.

on February 10,2012 | 11:26AM