HM arrives in Hawaii for Apec summit

HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday morning touched down on the Pacific island of Oahu, where the United States is hosting this year's Apec summit meetings and hopes to propel trade pact negotiations involving the Sultanate.

Landing in succession along other leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) at the Hickam Air Force Base, His Majesty the Sultan's Flight (HMSF) arrived on schedule as ground crew, US secret service and army personnel secured the area.

US President and this year's Apec host Barack Obama was also expected to arrive late yesterday evening. Greeting the Brunei leader upon arrival were the American Assistant Chief of Protocol for Diplomatic Affairs, Gladys Boluda, and Major General Jon Randy Shasteen, the deputy reserve commander from the Pacific Air Forces command.

Brunei's Second Finance Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Hj Abd Rahman Hj Ibrahim and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, who have been attending Apec meetings here prior to His Majesty's arrival, were also among the welcoming congregation. Also present was Brunei's Ambassador to the US Dato Paduka Hj Yussof Hj Abd Hamid.

Among those arriving on the HMSF were Energy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohd Yasmin Hj Umar, State Legislative Council Speaker YB Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Diraja Dato Laila Utama Hj Isa Pehin Datu Perdana Menteri Dato Laila Utama Hj Ibrahim and State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Hj Abdul Aziz Juned.

A motorcade of nearly 10 cars, flanked by two police escort vehicles and accompanied by Secret Service, brought the monarch and the Brunei delegation to the Kahala Hotel and Resort, near the extinct volcanic crater of Diamond Head. A Hawaiian welcome did await the monarch's arrival at the state's "most luxurious and secluded beachfront hotel and resort" with Kahala's General Manager Thomas Pauly greeting His Majesty with a lei. Today, His Majesty is scheduled to join President Obama and other Apec leaders involved in the nine-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting at the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki, Honolulu.

In the evening, the US President and First Lady Michelle Obama will host a dinner for the Apec leaders at the same hotel, where the heads of state and government will be treated to a cultural performance. His Majesty is in Honolulu to attend the three-day Apec Summit meetings. — With additional reporting by Goh De No

The Brunei Times