Chinese president arrives; motorists should expect delays
Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam today, stepping off the plane at about 8:36 a.m. as a light rain fell.
Zhang Yesui, the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, and his wife, and Deng Hong Bo, the Chinese deputy chief of mission and minister, and his wife, greeted Hu when he arrived.
His motorcade left at 8:39 a.m. and police shut down the H-1 Freeway and other roads along Hu’s route to the Sheraton Waikiki hotel, where he is staying. The freeway reopened about 9:05 a.m.
Mayor Peter Carlisle said motorists can expect more delays as 21 world leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation arrive today through Saturday for this weekend’s Leaders’ Meeting.
Carlisle told reporters "what happens this weekend is unprecedented in the history of Hawaii" with the visit of these world leaders.
President Barack Obama is expected to arrive at Hickam Friday night and the presidential party is staying at Hilton Hawaiian Village.
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A reception and dinner for APEC leaders will be held at the Hale Koa Saturday night.
On Sunday, President Obama will host a reception for them at the JW Marriott Hawaii hotel at Ko Olina.
There also will be a North American leader’s summit hosted by Obama at the Marriott on Sunday with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexico President Felipe Calderon expected to attend.
City Transportation Services Director Wayne Yoshioka said all the major security measures and traffic restrictions beginning Friday will shift away from the Hawaii Convention Center to Waikiki where the meetings and receptions will be held.
Starting 6 a.m. Friday, Kapiolani Boulevard between Kalakaua Avenue and Kaheka Street will no longer be closed to cars.
City buses 3, 9, and A will resume their normal routes on Kapiolani boulevard.
He also said that city buses E, 19, 20, and 42 and country express E — which normally serve Waikiki from Leeward Oahu — will end their routes at Ala Moana Center, where shuttles will take bus riders into Waikiki.
Beginning at 10 tonight, buses that normally travel along Kalia and Saratoga roads in Waikiki from Ala Moana Center will be re-routed to Kuhio Avenue.
City Director of Environmental Services Tim Steinberger said that regular refuse pickup in Waikiki and around the convention center — normally scheduled for 6 a.m. Saturday — will be made earlier at 4 a.m.
He also reiterated that city landfills, transfer stations and convenience centers will be closed on Sunday.