EDITORIAL
Lingle trade mission well worth the effort

Whirlwind "trade mission" trips such as the one to China and Korea just completed by Gov. Linda Lingle and more than 100 others are often more about show than substance.

But the show is important, particularly in Asia where it counts to have top political, academic and business leaders on the ground, speaking for Hawai'i and what it offers.

By that standard, the 10-day trip should be counted as a success. From Beijing to Seoul, the delegation made it clear we are seriously interested in Asia, not just for its tourists but for business, too.

A key topic on the trip was the matter of visas for visitors from China and Korea, who face far more hurdles than travelers from "visa waiver" nations in getting to the Islands for fun or business.

Lingle was commendably blunt in noting that the prospect of visa waivers for Chinese or Korean visitors is relatively dim, at least for the near future. That's reality.

But her Chinese and Korean hosts surely recognized that Hawai'i is serious about dealing with this barrier.

Much of the spadework for visa waivers, particularly for Koreans, occurred during the previous administration in an effort led by then-lieutenant governor Mazie Hirono. Sept. 11 changed all that.

This one trip is unlikely to unleash a torrent of new business or visitor traffic. But it was a strong and impressive signal that Hawai'i is serious and will work steadily and patiently toward that end.

If we do, our efforts will be rewarded.