In the waning hours of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, President Barack Obama lauded the progress made in discussions with 20 other member economies about business, especially highlighting the still-unfinished Trans-Pacific Partnership pact aimed at widening free trade.

He also gave a few well-deserved shout-outs to the residents of his former home state for enduring the significant disruptions to their routine, with security precautions causing traffic snarls as international dignitaries made their way to and from event venues.

The question Honolulu is asking: Was it all worth it? The short answer would appear to be a qualified yes: The state seems to have managed the logistics competently, with no significant mishaps during the Leaders’ Week schedule. That alone is noteworthy in showing that Hawaii can, indeed, rise to the occasion on a major global stage.

And it was a relief, given the terrible fatal shooting episode the preceding weekend, in which a member of the State Department’s APEC security detail is a suspect. That did not augur well for a big show of aloha. But although some groups folded the homicide case into a protest against APEC generally, that critique did not overwhelm the events of the week.

Business mixed with pleasure, as Japan announced its entry into TPP talks on liberalizing trade among 10 participating Asia-Pacific nations, while first lady Michelle Obama threw a luncheon spotlight on MA‘O Farms in Waianae. The burning question of how the TPP solidifies to benefit job growth in the U.S., and Hawaii, won’t be known until at least next year, since at least five more rounds of talks are scheduled.

Ultimately it will be impossible to gauge accurately the benefits of APEC to Hawaii’s own economy for some time. New partnerships that may result from networking during the conferences will not burst into full bloom immediately. There are a few elements that should be part of the host committee’s postmortem in the coming weeks:

» The traffic disruption was significant, with frequent backups into Waikiki throughout the week and freeway closures as motorcades sped to and from Ihilani on Sunday and then to the airport Monday. There were frequent media alerts of these, but perhaps better use of texting and social media outlets can be made.

Security for world leaders is needed and understandable, but the barriers throughout Waikiki sorely restricted freedom of movement and needed business, provoking criticisms of overkill.

» Short-term profits that retailers hoped to reap from delegates becoming shoppers did not seem to materialize, based on reporting earlier in the week. The projected $123 million economic boost to Hawaii is highly unlikely. There needs to be analysis to determine whether this was merely a result of traffic diversions or if there were other problems.

» Another traffic problem was the relatively low traffic through the Hawai‘i Convention Center displays. If there is a way to bring exhibits closer to delegates — perhaps more mobile displays at hotel venues — that should be explored.

It was worthwhile for Hawaii to step up and accept the challenge of a major international conference, a stretch of public and private capacity that happens all too infrequently. But now it’s clearer just how much of a disruption this can cause.

The experience of APEC 2011 should be fully discussed by the community, in some forum that incorporates public input, in order to capitalize better on the next opportunity.

And we do hope there will be one — just that we’ll be further along the learning curve and be wiser for this experience.