Michelle Obama looked as beautiful as the tropical scenery at yesterday's APEC Spouses Luncheon at the Kualoa Ranch in Ka'a'awa, Hawaii.
The FLOTUS, who hosted the luncheon to honor the spouses of the leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, looked radiant in the sunshine in her yellow tropical printed dress and gold-orb earrings, which were decorated with tree branches.
At the luncheon, Mrs. Obama joked that she married her husband because she'd have the chance to spend the holidays in Hawaii -- from where the president hails -- every year. She also spoke to the guests, who included the First Lady of Vietnam and the partner of Australia's prime minister, about the importance of change:
Hawaii is really the perfect place for this year's APEC Summit, because that is precisely what our spouses are working towards here during their time together. They're coming together to address our shared challenges. They are finding ways to boost our economies so that we can all prosper. And they're working to ensure -- most importantly -- that our young people will have every opportunity to fulfill their dreams. And I know that all of you and your spouses also share that hope and goal for the young people in our country and in our world.
The spouses dined on fresh fish from Kaneohe Bay, taro pounded by hand and even limu, Hawaii News Now reports, and enjoyed a performance by the Honolulu Boys Choir.
As gifts, Michelle O. presented an orchid brooch designed by Hawaiian artist Wayne Keeth, meant to symbolize "the inherent beauty of the islands and the gracious welcoming nature of the Hawaiian people," and for the men, sterling silver cufflinks with Hawaiian koa wood, designed by Kara Ross.
At Saturday night's APEC dinner, the FLOTUS also looked lovely in a silver and pink off-the-shoulder dress.
And in other APEC forum style news, President Barack Obama broke from Bill Clinton's established tradition of wearing Hawaiian shirts at the forum this year. The AP explains why:
"I got rid of the Hawaiian shirts because I looked at pictures of some of the previous APEC meetings and some of the garb that appeared previously and I thought this might be a tradition that we might want to break," Obama said late Sunday. "I suggested to leaders, we gave them a shirt and I promise you if they wanted to wear it that would have been fine but I didn't hear a lot of complaints about breaking precedent."
No word on whether the leaders chose to wear grass skirts instead.
Check out our slideshow below to see Mrs. O's dress (and envy the gorgeous Hawaiian scenery) and watch the video.
