Hawaii-born president jokes about wearing a suit during his visit

[ellisonz]

Hawaii-born president jokes about wearing a suit during his visit
By B.J. Reyes
POSTED: 01:40 p.m. HST, Nov 12, 2011

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Although he was born in Hawaii, President Barack Obama professed a little bit of discomfort being in the islands as he spoke at the CEO Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference.

“In all my years of living in Hawaii and visiting Hawaii, this is the first time that I’ve ever worn a suit,” Obama told the business leaders gathered at the Waikiki Sheraton. “So it feels a little odd.”

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During a question-and-answer session with Boeing Chief Executive Officer James McNerney, Obama even took a jab at the “birthers,” those who believe he was born outside the United States and is therefore ineligible to be president.

“As many of you know, this is my birthplace,” he began. “ I know that was contested for a while, but I can actually show you the hospital if you want to go down there.”

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/Hawaii-born_president_jokes_about_wearing_a_suit_during_his_visit.html?id=133749648

Mahalo nui loa, Mr. President.

:rofl:

[msongs]

1. glad he isn't wearing aloha shirts to gouge the working people of the US while he sells out

Hawaii's right to local products too

[ellisonz]

2. If DUers like yourself spent 1/2 the time you complain...

...about the President and long-established American foreign policy registering new voters in swing districts you might actually get something done. The issue is not whether to oppose or support globalization but rather how to regulate its conduct :-)

What you don't know is that except for the cheap knock-offs you'll find in the International Marketplace and ABC stores the vast majority of Aloha shirts are made in Hawaii and will continue to be made in Hawaii because of their high quality. If you were to go to the Sears at the Ala Moana shopping center you'd find that the average Aloha shirt runs from anywhere from $40-100 dollars. High-end shirts can run into the hundreds. Aloha shirts are the standard business attire in Honolulu - if you drive downtown on a weekday at noon you will see crowds of men in them. It's like an Italian suit - the quality is eminent. The only people you'll see wearing suits are lawyers going to court etc. No self-respecting citizen of Hawaii would buy a non-Hawaii made Aloha shirt.

:thumbsdown:

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. It's the usual drive-by, but I admire your willingness to respond.

:hi:

[ellisonz]

4. The above poster is entiteld to their belief.

But the above doesn't know jack about Aloha shirts.

:hi:

[Tarheel_Dem]

11. Definitely entitled to one's own "beliefs", but not one's own facts.

:hi:

[NBachers]

6. I was ready to fire off a snippy response because I thought you called Obama's visit a drive-by

but then I figured out you were referring to trip-wire comment #1

So we're actually on the same page.

And, yeah, good response.

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. We're definitely on "the same page".

:fistbump:

[Pirate Smile]

7. I guess I gave up on Ignored a long time ago.

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. You haven't missed a thing.

;)

[Number23]

21. A more worthy candidate for that function would be difficult to find.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

18. That poster quits faster than Palin.

He just spews some random anti-Obama comment not grounded in reality, then leaves.

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. !

:thumbsup:

[flamingdem]

5. Yes, we gotta start working hard in those swing districts!

Good idea, I hope the person you responded to goes for it :)

[demtenjeep]

17. +10000

!

[mahina]

20. You remember the old joke,

what do you say to a Hawaii resident in a suit?
"Will the defendant please rise".

Well said, Ellisonz. Reyn's shirts and Andy Mohans, now Sig Zane's, are a form of heuristic, nonverbal communication that the wearer is from here and understands local customs.

Anyhow! Imua dear E.

[ellisonz]

23. Good one.

Truly understanding many local customs can be extremely painful for many transplants, and even those that have been in the Islands for awhile. I've never seen it more painfully expressed than in my two weeks working for a tour reservations company - that I shall refrain from naming.

Back to the trade issue, let's face it - if Americans bought American there would be no trade deficit. But they don't for two main reasons, superior foreign quality, and price. Most people in Hawaii looking for Aloha attire aren't willing to sacrifice superior domestic quality for foreign or even Mainland produced goods.

[treestar]

14. What is this about?

Is it supposed to make sense?

[mahina]

19. ?? the hey??

what evas

[Pirate Smile]

8. I remember reading a couple of articles, during the lead up to the Obama Inauguration,that a lot of

the Hawaiians who had come to the Inauguration had never worn or owned a suit before - so they had to get one - and that many/most hadn't ever had dress shoes either. The articles talked about how you just Never wear that stuff in Hawaii - ever. That certainly makes the President's comment seem very accurate.

[ellisonz]

13. It would have to be a very formal occasion...

...and he's not talking weddings and funerals. Pretty much if you're a lawyer in court, a police officer or fireman on formal business, an international businessman dealing with other international businessmen, a Mainland church type, some 5 star restaurants, maybe under a graduation ground or for a Catholic baptism. But definitely not an everyday work or even church thing...

I really wish Barack was allowed to act more Hawaii - but I think people would freak out if he talked pidgin at all in public. They've had such difficulty wrapping their heads around his "blackness" already. x(

Edit: Also some politicians on formal occasions - like Governor - Lieutenant Governor - Mayor - often with a lei over it.

[MgtPA]

15. My brother lived on Oahu throughout most of the 1970's. He was VP of an engineering firm in Honolulu

and he didn't even own a suit. I remember him telling me that wearing a suit and tie to a board meeting in Honolulu would be as inappropriate as wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sandals to a similar meeting on Wall Street.

[Pirate Smile]

16. Exactly! That was what the articles made clear.

[NOMOREDRUGWAR]

12. Birthers froth at the mouth reading the last line

nt