Posted on: Sunday, December 26, 2004

EDITORIAL
Fun 'n' sun image both a curse and a blessing

To a large degree, it's our own fault. For decades we have marketed Hawai'i as a dream destination, a place of incredible beauty and aloha, the perfect spot to relax.

So it's inevitable that when someone comes here for serious work, there will be a temptation somewhere to take a cheap shot.

How many business travelers to Hawai'i have gone out of their way to avoid getting a tan just to make sure they aren't the target of unnecessary ribbing when they return?

So we should have seen the criticism coming from a mile away when the state hosted its second annual Asia-Pacific Homeland Security Summit and Exposition in Honolulu earlier this year.

Now, it's worthwhile to debate whether Honolulu should want to profit over what might be called the "business" of terror prevention. The thrust of the summit was to bring together more than 900 experts and officials to share security concerns, swap best practices and take a look at the latest in anti-terrorism and security gear on display.

The keynote speaker was outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

But no question, this was a serious meeting with a serious purpose.

Still, ABC News couldn't resist. It predictably reported the conference in terms of palm trees, rolling surf, Diamond Head, hula dancers and other clichéd images of idyllic relaxation and fun. Ridge was shown sitting poolside.

Give us a break.

If this convention was a boondoggle, it would have been a boondoggle whether it was held in Honolulu, Trenton, N.J., or Dayton, Ohio. Far more useful would have been a serious exploration of whether anything was accomplished — whether any of the participants went home feeling better prepared to deal with terrorism.

Face it: Hawai'i's bread and butter is fun and sun. We can't turn our back on our ace card.

But we will just have to realize that when we attempt to do serious business here — and we do more than many people realize — there will always be someone around to take the cheap shot.