Hagel in isles for busy, brief visit

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is in the midst of his first visit to Hawaii since taking office in February, defense officials say, as part of a round-the-globe trip that includes stops in Singapore and Brussels.

Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska who was chosen by President Barack Obama to succeed Leon Panetta as defense secretary, arrived Wednesday in Honolulu, where he headed to Camp Smith and was briefed by Adm. Samuel Locklear on U.S. Pacific Command operations, said Carl Woog, assistant press secretary for the Department of Defense.

Hagel also planned to have dinner Wednesday with Locklear at the Hale­kulani Hotel. In July 1968, Hagel, serving as a sergeant in the Army, and his brother, Tom, spent a week’s leave in Waikiki during their tours of duty in Vietnam, and Hagel family members reunited during that trip at the Halekulani, Woog said.

Hagel is scheduled to address about 200 service members today inside Hangar 19 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

According to defense officials, Hagel then will make stops in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual summit attended by defense ministers and top military officials from around the world, and in Brussels for a meeting of NATO defense ministers.