The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit moves to higher levels today, with top Obama administration officials here to lay the groundwork for this weekend’s Leaders’ Meeting and with the traffic-stopping arrivals of major heads of state.

Security will become even tighter today as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton travels to the East-West Center in Manoa to speak on "America’s Pacific Century" while Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner hosts APEC finance ministers to discuss economic and trade issues at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Chinese President Hu Jintao was scheduled to arrive early this morning.

Friday could be the most unpredictable day of this week’s APEC events for island residents. The Veterans Day holiday will mean fewer commuters, but many of the 21 APEC-member leaders will arrive throughout the day, then travel by motorcade from the airport area to Waikiki. Late Friday, Air Force One is scheduled to arrive from San Diego and touch down at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama aboard, which will generate even more security and potential traffic problems during the weekend.

In discussing the president’s APEC agenda, Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, told White House reporters on Wednesday that the Asia-Pacific region "is really going to shape the future of the 21st century," adding, "It’s the fastest-growing economic region in the world. The trade that the U.S. does with the Asia-Pacific (nations) supports millions of American jobs. The markets that are growing in the (region) are ones that we want to be competitive in going forward."

With Obama and the heads of 20 other nations in Honolulu discussing critical issues, city officials continue to warn drivers to be prepared for road closings and delays, especially this morning and Friday along the H-1 and Nimitz Highway "as certain dignitaries arrive and travel to Waikiki."

Officials continue to ask drivers to prepare for traffic delays, leave earlier than usual, ensure their vehicles are in good working order to avoid breakdowns and to "be sensitive to other drivers and follow the instructions of law enforcement."

Sales continued to be sluggish throughout Waikiki, but business is expected to pick up beginning today.

"We thought that APEC business would be steady for the entire week," said Sam Shenkus, marketing director for the Festival Cos., which manage Waikiki’s Royal Hawaiian Center for Kamehameha Schools. "What we’re now seeing is that you’re probably going to get a big ramp-up and push Thursday, Friday and Saturday."

On the Kapahulu end of Waikiki on Wednesday, someone sent a tweet from Rainbow Drive-In about one of Obama’s favorite hometown restaurants that said, "People think we’re not open, it’s crowded, there’s no parking. NOT TRUE! Come!"

Manager Pam Martin did not know who sent the tweet but said all of the APEC-related security and traffic delays have definitely hurt business at the plate-lunch restaurant.

"We are slower than usual," Martin said.

At ‘Iolani School on the edge of Waikiki, administrators on Sunday sent an email to parents warning of traffic delays. ‘Iolani’s faculty parking lot also has been full earlier than normal this week as ‘Iolani’s 240 teachers apparently are hitting the road earlier, said school spokeswoman Cathy Lee Chong.

Melissa Pavlicek, executive director of the Hawaii chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, offered her seven employees the opportunity to work from home this week. Three took her up on the offer Tuesday and four worked from home Wednesday.

One employee who lives in Kahala was watching traffic before deciding whether to come into the office, Pavlicek said, "but the traffic was so bad that he just decided to work from home."

Pavlicek sent an email to her board members Wednesday, asking whether there is any evidence of a widespread "APEC flu" with employees calling in sick to avoid APEC-related traffic.

"It’s too soon to tell," Pavlicek said. "We haven’t heard anything to show that there is widespread absenteeism."

Oahu saw more APEC-related protests Wednesday when about 50 members of the Falun Gong religious movement staged a protest at Ala Moana Park and nine people gathered for an Occupy APEC protest at Princess Kaiulani Triangle in Waikiki.