Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Sunday, December 22, 2024 80° Today's Paper


Top News

Obamas set to return to Hawaii for annual vacation

ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Barack Obama eats shave ice with daughter Malia, at right, at Island Snow on Jan. 1, 2015, in Kailua during the Obama family vacation.

President Barack Obama and his family are scheduled to fly to Hawaii late next week for their annual Christmas vacation in the islands.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed today that, unless events in Washington or elsewhere keep Obama at work, the first family will leave for Hawaii the night of Dec. 18.

No information was released on the arrival time, but motorists can expect freeway and road closures as the president’s motorcade travels to their rented vacation home in Kailua late that night or early morning on Dec. 19.

The Christmastime vacation in Hawaii is a tradition for the first family. Obama, who was born in Honolulu and spent much of his childhood on Oahu, has spent the holidays in the islands every year during his presidency and even before he was elected.

If this vacation is like the others, expect the president to spend several days golfing with Punahou School friends Bobby Titcomb, Mike Ramos and Greg Orme, along with selected White House staffers, and perhaps a family day at Pyramid Rock beach on Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay.

Past vacations have included a trip to Island Snow in Kailua for shave ice, at least one hike, and dinner at favorite fine-dining restaurants with Obama’s sister Maya Soetoro-Ng and her family.

Past Christmas Eves and New Year’s Eves have been spent at their rented Kailua home with family.

Also on Christmas Eve, First Lady Michelle Obama spends some time on the phone answering calls about Santa Claus’ trip around the world as tracked by NORAD.

On Christmas Day, the president and first lady have made it a tradition to spend time with service members and their families at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

72 responses to “Obamas set to return to Hawaii for annual vacation”

  1. justmyview371 says:

    So the “EMBARRASSMENT OF HAWAII” wants to come back. Where are our Social Security increases?

  2. yobo says:

    Be prepared for traffic jams.

    I wonder if Obama had anything to do with the establishment of the Obama Library that’s going to built in Chicago instead of Hawaii? Seems like it would have been more befitting that it be built in his hometown.

    • mikethenovice says:

      America is his home town, you silly rabbit.

    • inverse says:

      Agree Chicago is really nice this time of year and would be better if Obsma visit his friend and mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emmanuel for Christmas. Maybe Obama can make some speeches in person while in the Windy City to keep his friend from getting impeached and talk to fellow Chicagoans about his new library on Chicago’s South side; in between all of the protests and possible riots currently going on there.

  3. CEI says:

    I don’t think many of us would be offended if he decided to take his Christmas vacation in France. Or maybe his birth country of Kenya. Either way would be good.

  4. waikane_honolulu says:

    Is it that time of year already?

  5. Mythman says:

    Welcome Home, Sir, once again, Commander in Chief, and to your lovely family. Pray that yours will be the final PC OJT presidency America has.

  6. wrightj says:

    Expensive vacation; that old elite shuffle.

  7. butinski says:

    What? Why not his hometown of Chicago, especially when Emanuel and the rioters would be there to greet him. On the bright side, the economy of Hawaii will rise by ten bucks worth of “shave ice”.

  8. mikethenovice says:

    I’m here in Kailua Town, Mr. President. Let us know what is your favorite flavor of shaved ice, Sir?

  9. sluggah says:

    You can have him. What a PITA

  10. Cellodad says:

    Geez, can the Grumpy Old Men find something else to talk about while the guy and his family spend Christmas in this best of all places? (apologies to Voltaire)

  11. stanislous says:

    Great, now we can get the Likiliki and Pali Hwy. re-surfaced…… Yea.

  12. MakaniKai says:

    Barry sez his fav tune of 2015 is: How Much A Dollar Cost · Kendrick Lamar. Hawaii vaca cost more than a dollar, and obtw we the taxpayers fund it because one official visit is made, Christmas day at the MCBH Chow Hall and there ya go. Eh, Barry in all these many years why haven’t you visited the other bases? They serve a Christmas meal at those Galleys and Dining Facilities.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJT3b4urwcU&list=PLIen3IPVo_U30dpwJd2RDrPxYVXTplcq7

  13. mnsato says:

    Why don’t you go somewhere else this year

  14. […] that, unless events in Washington or elsewhere keep Obama at work, the first family will leave Washington for Hawaii Dec. 18, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser […]

  15. […] that, unless events in Washington or elsewhere keep Obama at work, the first family will leave Washington for Hawaii Dec. 18, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser […]

  16. […] Friday that, unless events in Washington or elsewhere keep Obama at work, the first family will leave Washington for Hawaii Dec. 18, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser […]

  17. Boots says:

    Welcome back Mr. President. Hopefully after you leave the presidency, you will continue coming back to Hawaii. Maybe someday even run for office here. 🙂

  18. […] Friday that, unless events in Washington or elsewhere keep Obama at work, the first family will leave Washington for Hawaii Dec. 18, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser […]

  19. […] Friday that, unless events in Washington or elsewhere keep Obama at work, the first family will leave Washington for Hawaii Dec. 18, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser […]

  20. […] Friday that, unless events in Washington or elsewhere keep Obama at work, the first family will leave Washington for Hawaii Dec. 18, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser […]

  21. […] Friday that, unless events in Washington or elsewhere keep Obama at work, the first family will leave Washington for Hawaii Dec. 18, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser […]

  22. […] that, unless events in Washington or elsewhere keep Obama at work, the first family will leave Washington for Hawaii Dec. 18, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser […]

  23. […] that, unless events in Washington or elsewhere keep Obama at work, the first family will leave Washington for Hawaii Dec. 18, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser […]

  24. mikethenovice says:

    So our next President will be a gray haired, senior?

  25. katk234 says:

    Obama, you should go to Chicago instead of coming here.

  26. wrightj says:

    Shave ice, shaved ice. Does anyone here remember ” snow cones “?

  27. Jiujitsu_Fighter says:

    He’s coming to Hawaii to organize the refugee program.

  28. surfingcop says:

    Obama should stay on the Mainland. All he does is cost us money.

  29. […] The White House said President Obama and his family will spend their eighth straight Christmas in Hawaii. The first family will be leaving Dec. 18 and coming back after the New Year. […]

  30. […] The White House said President Obama and his family will spend their eighth straight Christmas in Hawaii. The first family will be leaving Dec. 18 and coming back after the New Year. […]

Leave a Reply