Most of us had nothing to do with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, in town this weekend.
We didn’t attend any meetings or hobnob with the heads of state in Honolulu for summits, meetings, dinners and meet-and-greets.
But we were stuck in traffic.
For hours.
Yesterday I had to change dinner plans because there was no way I could make it to McCully — and then find parking — on time. I didn’t go to my parents’ house for dinner because it’s located between Waikiki and Ko Olina — the no-drive zone. And I mostly avoided Waikiki — good thing there wasn’t much surf — all weekend.
So, in a way, I was affected.
But there were stories about people sitting in traffic from Costco for three and a half hours. It took one of my friends two hours to drive a mile. And I’m sure there will be stories tomorrow about folks getting re-routed on H-1 as the APEC leaders drove to and from Ko Olina.
So it’s no surprise a Hawaii-based designer jumped on it.
Starting Wednesday, “I survived APEC 2011” shirts will be available at both Butigroove and Rainbow Drive-In. Shirts will be $20.
***
Just to be fair: the designer knows that some people may link this shirt with the tragedy that happened earlier last week, when a U.S. State Department law enforcement agent shot and killed a Kailua man at McDonald’s on Kuhio Avenue. But the sentiment is about the traffic and parking problems APEC caused — not this tragedy.
4 Comments
APEC is a huge success
get ready for the sequel
APEC 2, this time next year
enjoy
shirt designers are happy
And when they were selling the Hawaii Convention Center to people they said no way it would affect traffic. 🙂 reminds me of that time around 2003 it took four hours to get home to Ewa from Waikele. Rains had completely clogged the roads.
But I am sure the powers that be believe the nation’s worst traffic was worth the price of the HCC
Hello Cat, I was at the beach house all weekend, didn’t affect me at all.
When I left Honolulu a year ago, I was done…with the traffic. Several months before I decided to move to Maui, my FB friends got to enjoy my frustration via expletives on my status on the day I took one hour to get from 9th Ave to my ivory tower in downtown and then another hour to get home. For what reason? Who knows? No accidents or big events or road closures. It was a mystery.
There are many weekends, my heart aches for Honolulu, my friends, Olive Tree Cafe, Kailua Racquet Club, Dolce at Ward. This weekend, I have to say, I was happy not to be there.
Oh yeah, when I hear Mauians complaining about traffic, I tell them they don’t even wanna know what I know.