State fears portrayal of summit (Homeland Security)

[The Sushi Bandit]

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Dec/21/bz/bz04p.html

Hawai'i's fragile image as a place to do business may have suffered a setback last week when the recently held Asia-Pacific Homeland Security Summit was portrayed as a boondoggle on national network television.

The reports aired Friday by ABC News criticized Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and other top federal officials for attending the meeting at "a sumptuous resort and spa on Waikiki Beach."

Ridge was shown sitting poolside during the event last month at a time when Homeland Security had imposed a hiring freeze and spending cuts. It was not the type of television exposure Hawai'i tourism officials covet.