APEC banner coming down at UH

The University of Hawaii at Manoa will take down a large banner welcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit attendees on Thursday, but not because of objections by some faculty and students who oppose APEC’s objectives.

UH-Manoa spokesman Gregg Takayama said the sign will be removed to comply with a city ordinance allowing special-event signs to be posted for seven days. It will be reposted Thursday at the Campus Center for a student-hosted APEC event.

The university said Tuesday it hadn’t ruled out placing the sign at another campus location visible from a public roadway.

A city official said that might not be an option.

"They shouldn’t be putting it back on a vantage point where it can be seen from a public road," said Jiro Sumada, deputy director of the city Department of Planning and Permitting. "The law allows a special event sign to be put up once every six months, seven days prior to the event."

UH President M.R.C. Greenwood, a member of the APEC Hawaii Host Committee, said in a written statement, "Opportunities such as this provide UH with the chance to promote our many outstanding programs, colleges and research enterprises. … UH-Manoa’s welcome banner is consistent with that message."