Obamas begin isle vacation

[Turborama]

Source: Star Bulletin (Honolulu)

Barack Obama plans to keep a low profile during his vacation with his family in Kailua.

But that may be hard to do when you are the president-elect of the United States.

Obama arrived with his family yesterday under cloudy skies on a chartered United Airlines Boeing 767 from Chicago. His motorcade took him to the old Castle Estate, a $9 million oceanfront home on nearly an acre of land in Kailua.

The Secret Service set up a security area around the home and on the beach.

Obama and his family spent the evening at the five-bedroom home after arriving at about 4 p.m.

Residents called the property where Obama is staying "choice" and said it has a gorgeous view.

"It's the most beautiful spot on the whole beach," said one Kailua beach-goer yesterday.

President-elect Barack Obama arrived in his native Hawaii yesterday for a holiday vacation that begins a month before he takes the oath of office.

Beneath overcast skies, the president-elect's private United Airlines charter plane arrived at Honolulu Airport shortly after 3 p.m.

Obama departed the plane carrying two of his own bags and dressed casually with a black jacket, khaki pants, sneakers and his trademark Chicago White Sox baseball cap.

He was accompanied off the 767-300i with his younger daughter, Sasha. His wife, Michelle, and oldest daughter, Malia, followed. Obama waved at reporters and airport workers - who were kept a good distance away - before the family climbed in a stretch limousine as part of the motorcade that made its way to a rented vacation home in Kailua.

Read more: http://www.starbulletin.com/news/hawaiinews/20081221_Obamas_begin_isle_vacation.html

---

So glad to hear that at last they're having a well deserved break...

[DainBramaged]

1. I wonder if Rick Warren went along for the invocation?

Just sayin'.

[KittyWampus]

2. Keep stoking the hate. It's so productive. It really is just a handful of DU'ers.

[DainBramaged]

5. I'm not Rick Warren, but maybe you can direct your diatribe at him?

[tinrobot]

3. Maybe Reverend Wright will do it...

Oh that's right, Reverend Wright is the pastor the Freepers use to tear down Obama.

Here on DU, people use Rick Warren to tear down Obama.

[stillcool]

6. I thought Rick Warren was Obama..

every thing Obama does Rick Warren is right there. They are inseparable..just like Rezko, Ayers, Wright, Blago..etc. Maybe there are times when guilt by association is warranted.

[lamp_shade]

9. oforpetesake

[MidwestTransplant]

4. I bet his SS detail is happy to be out of Chicago. It's -4 right now (before windchill).

[gblady]

7. I'm glad....

the family is getting some time for rest and relaxation....
they've got big changes coming up...

My thoughts are with them on their first Holiday without Toot...
those "firsts" after a loved one passes can be very difficult.

[Lars39]

8. I wonder if they're going to have a private memorial service for her.

[sce56]

11. That is part of the plan

Obama arrived with his family yesterday under cloudy skies on a chartered United Airlines Boeing 767 from Chicago. His motorcade took him to the old Castle Estate, a $9 million oceanfront home on nearly an acre of land in Kailua. The Secret Service set up a security area around the home and on the beach. Obama and his family spent the evening at the five-bedroom home after arriving at about 4 p.m. Residents called the property where Obama is staying "choice" and said it has a gorgeous view. "It's the most beautiful spot on the whole beach," said one Kailua beach-goer yesterday.


Aides said Obama planned to keep a low profile while in Hawaii, but will continue to have business meetings and intelligence briefings as he prepares to take office next month.

Obama and his family had no public events scheduled. He is expected to participate in a private service in honor of his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who died Nov. 2, two days before his victory on Election Day.

He also plans to visit with his half sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and her family, who live on Oahu.
"I think he has already done so much that is truly transformative and meaningful. ... How wonderful that he and the family are able to spend Christmas in Hawaii."
As Obama's motorcade traveled to the Windward side, scores of onlookers waved, snapped pictures and stood outside their cars along the side of the road. His arrival in Kailua was met by dozens of young soccer players who stood at a fence to wave.



Palm trees swayed in the breeze yesterday outside the Kailua home where President-elect Barack Obama will stay during his vacation in Hawaii.



Oh how I miss living on that magical island!

[Hekate]

17. The photos make me miss it too, sce56. Kailua was a poky little town when I grew up there...

I'm sure the Castle Estate was there too--but not part of my consciousness as a kid, LOL. The August pix of Obama walking in the sand (first in shoes -- ha!--then barefeets like a normal local) made me say: "Wait! I know that spot" and sure enough it was Kailua Beach.

I hope the memorial service for his tutu goes well and privately, with everyone who knew her who would have wanted to come, able to come. And I hope that he and his extended family get lots of time together, strengthening the bonds necessary for him to keep going through the next years, which are going to be pretty tough.

Maya thanked people there for their "aloha and their courtesy" to Barack and the extended family. I hope it is always a place of refuge for them.

Hekate

[sce56]

22. Well it is near the beach I liked to go to at Bellows Air Force Station the best sandy beach!

I only lived in Oahu from 2000-2002 would still be there if not for my ex who wanted to move back here to CA. Owned a house in Mililani Makua. Now I work on the beach tween the two harbors here and sometimes have to go up to Goleta for our peaker unit there. Of course my first time in Hawaii was on disaster tour and spent two months helping after Iniki in 91.

[Turborama]

10. I agree with you wholeheartedly n/t

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

12. i hope, for the sake of the daughters, they have some good

memory making family time together, because Mom and Dad are going be very busy, very soon.

[elleng]

13. I'm sure they will.

Hope they can do some 'social' kinds of things, too, like hanging around villages, biking, etc. WHAT A PLACE for family vacations!

[Bigmack]

16. Poor little shits....

they're about to enter the meatgrinder that is Murikan politics.

During the election, I saw a pic of Chelsea Clinton and remarked about how pretty she is. Remember when that toilet brush Limbaugh called her the "White House Dog" when she was about 13.

I'm practicing some truly ugly verbal reposts to any nasty comments I hear about those little girls. (Thank you, Marine Corps, for providing me with the vocabulary.)

If I was a theist, I would pray for that young family.

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

20. i hear you,

let someone say anything destructive about the girls in my presence, i dare them

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. I'm so glad they were able to get away, for a break. (nt)

[Ernesto]

15. I spent a week in Kailua last November.

Pretty laid back little spot far away from the noise & traffic on the other side of the island.
To my suprise, I met a couple of near by Kaneohe Bay based young Marines from from my Vietnam unit 2-3. They had just returned from their 2nd trip to Iraq and were so proud that "they all came home".

[libodem]

18. I'm so glad for all of them

and you'll be embarrassed for me when you hear why. Yes, once again I am caught listening to Oxycontin Rimjob's take that the president-elect is fostering a Christ-complex because there are no rooms at the Inns in Washington D.C.. Maybe he's talking about inauguration day? I'm glad to see the Obama's have the happiest place on earth and are not banished to a Washington suburb Motel 6.

[KamaAina]

19. E komo mai, E ka luna!

("Welcome, boss!")

It's much nicer today, at least on this side (he's over on Opihi's side of the island, which has a completely different microclimate, not to mention possibly the finest beach on the planet).

:bounce:

[bluestateguy]

21. Thank God this man will be the president

nt

[kwassa]

23. What? Christmas without snow and cold? It's Un-American!

Back to Chicago!