This year the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) USA Leaders Week and CEO Summit for 2011 took place in Honolulu, Hawaii from November 8-13, 2011. Waialua Robotics Coordinator Mr. Glenn Lee and student member Jonathan Oishi were fortunate enough to be an exhibitor at the grand event. All week long they dedicated their time to travel to the Hawaii Convention Center to inform people about the benefits of participating in FIRST Robotics.

The 2011 APEC leaders (presidents, prime ministers, etc.) from different countries all attended Leaders Week. APEC is designed to help deepen regional economic integration and prosperity. It has reduced tariffs and other trade barriers across the Asia-Pacific region, facilitated business interactions between member nations, and improved training and education in international trade. Present at APEC was SEE-IT (Science, Engineering Exposition-Innovative Technologies) which featured top Hawaii entrepreneurs and companies that develops or uses cutting edge technologies and solutions applies in Hawaii. Some companies that attended was BAE Systems, Hawaiian Electric Company, Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC) Hawaii, and University of Hawaii’s College of Engineering.

It was a great experience for all attendees and all the Waialua Robotics Members that were fortunate enough to attend were proud to represent Team 359 at an impacting event like APEC.