The state will soon apply for federal dollars to help it and the city of Honolulu pay for security and other expenses that will be incurred at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in November 2011.

Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday the state wants the annual conference designated a national special security event, paving the way for federal reimbursement.

“;I would anticipate that we will gain that designation,”; she said.

Speaking after a news conference where the local host committee was introduced, Lingle said her office just received the application that the state can use to seek the classification.

Honolulu expects to spend at least $28 million this year and next for training, equipment and security at the event, where thousands of officials from 21 Pacific region nations will converge.

Both the state and the city are suffering from tight budgets and have had to reduce services and personnel to cut spending.

But Mayor Mufi Hannemann said reimbursement or not, the city will proceed with its plans.

“;It's worth the cost,”; he said at the news conference, which was held at the Hawai'i Convention Center near Waikiki, the site of the APEC conference. “;The benefits will come long after and will continue to come if we do it right.”;

President Barack Obama chose Hawaii to host the conference, the first time it has been on U.S. soil since 1993 at Blake Island, Wash.

A date has not been set, but the event is expected to be in the latter half of November 2011 and last about five days, officials said.

The 11 members of the local host committee include Lingle, Hannemann, University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood and Air Force Maj. Gen. Peter Pawling, chief of staff of the U.S. Pacific Command.

Also on the panel are Hawaii Tourism Authority President Mike McCartney, First Hawaiian Bank Senior Vice President Corbett Kalama, OmniTrak Group President Patricia Loui, Alexander & Baldwin President Stanley Kuriyama and Kobayashi Group President Bert “;B.J.”; Kobayashi Jr.

Bank of Hawaii Chairman Peter Ho will head the committee, and Bishop Museum President Tim Johns will be its vice chairman.