Hawaii events
postponed

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By Russ Lynch
rlynch@starbulletin.com

Various events in Hawaii were postponed or canceled because of the changed atmosphere caused by yesterday's terrorist attacks.

One casualty, for now, was the long-planned first Hawaii Annual Tourism Conference set for Monday through Friday next week. It has been postponed, the organizers said. They said they intend to hold the conference later in the fall but a date has not yet been set.

Also postponed was the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau's 99th annual luncheon meeting, which was expected to attract more than 1,200 people. The luncheon had been set for the middle of the tourism conference, an international event organized by the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the HVCB.

Those events were to take place at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Another postponed event is a trade mission to China, organized by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, scheduled for Friday through Sept. 28, with more than 110 participants. It will instead take place the first week in December.

"We believe that the next few weeks will be critical for America and its people," said Sharon Narimatsu, acting director of DBEDT. "This is an important time to unify our nation and focus our thoughts on those most affected by this cruel and despicable tragedy."

Hawaii Convention Center officials said that as of yesterday they had not lost any conventions. A trade show was taking place yesterday as planned. A meeting of Tokyu Travel, expected to attract 2,000, is still scheduled for tomorrow and Friday, and a World Wide Group LLC meeting of 1,200 people is scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

The Hawaii Business Top 250 luncheon, scheduled for the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort tomorrow to recognize the magazine's list of Hawaii's biggest businesses, has been canceled.

Still on, however, are the major Aloha Festivals events, including the downtown Hoolaulea from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and the floral parade through Waikiki Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. on Hobron Lane.

Festivals organizers said the Mrs. America Fashion Show, which had been scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, has been canceled.