down at the farm

Star Advertiser: College interns who help run one of the island’s largest organic farms guided first lady Michelle Obama through fields of budding salad greens today, then sat down to swap stories with her about their efforts to improve the health of their communities.

Wearing a sleeveless navy dress, Obama traded hugs and laughs with the students, immediately disarming them. “She was so outgoing, just the easiest person to talk to,” said Ku’uleilani Samson, one of the young co-managers at the farm, who completed an internship and earned an associate’s degree. “She made you feel totally comfortable.”

The nonprofit MA’O Farms, on 24 acres of Lualualei Valley, is devoted to raising healthy crops for local consumption while also growing a new generation of leaders in touch with the land and their heritage.

“I’ve heard about all that’s going on here for years and years,” Obama told the students. “I jumped at the opportunity to come and not just see for myself but also allow the world to see what you all are doing.”

…. MA’O’s mission dovetails with Obama’s nationwide “Let’s Move” campaign, which aims to raise a healthier generation of children through better nutrition and exercise.

Full article here

First lady Michelle Obama with interns after touring the Ma’o Organic Farms in Waianae, Hawaii, November 12

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A Quiet Saturday:

President Obama shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda during the APEC Summit in Honolulu

…. with Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

…. with U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk

…. speaking to Boeing CEO Jim McNerney during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit

… with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

… with Chinese President Hu Jintao

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Leaders’ statement: We, the Leaders of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam, are pleased to announce today the broad outlines of a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement among our nine countries.

We are delighted to have achieved this milestone in our common vision to establish a comprehensive, next-generation regional agreement that liberalizes trade and investment and addresses new and traditional trade issues and 21st-century challenges.

We are confident that this agreement will be a model for ambition for other free trade agreements in the future, forging close linkages among our economies, enhancing our competitiveness, benefiting our consumers and supporting the creation and retention of jobs, higher living standards, and the reduction of poverty in our countries.

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Lara Sutton places a kiss on a cut out poster of President Barack Obama in Waikiki, Hawaii, Nov. 12

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Tonight (11:20 ET): The President and First Lady welcome APEC leaders and spouses in an arrival ceremony

Sunday: The President delivers opening comments at the APEC Summit and attends sessions through the day; holds a press conference to wrap up the summit. In the evening meets with the Mexican President and the Canadian Prime Minister at the North American Leaders Summit. The First Lady hosts a luncheon with APEC leaders’ spouses at Kualoa Ranch.

Monday: Holds a fundraiser in the morning. That will be his only event for the day before he leaves on Tuesday morning for Canberra, Australia.