Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Obama's Hawaiian Fundraiser, Basketball, Burgers

Obama at Punahou School

Obama's fundraiser in Hawaii yesterday pulled in $1.3 million. Then Obama played basketball at his former school and ordered burgers.
HA: The event capped a relatively relaxing day that included a pickup basketball game at Obama's alma mater, Punahou School, followed by a quick stop to pick up burgers and fries at Kua 'Aina Sandwich Shop at Ward Centre and then an afternoon picnic at Magic Island with Obama's children, who splashed in the ocean.

Obama arrived at Punahou in late morning wearing a gray T-shirt and black shorts and carrying a basketball as he was greeted by James Scott, Punahou's president, Scott's wife, Maureen, and Kevin Conway, Punahou's high school principal.

Obama attended Punahou from fifth grade in 1971, played on the Punahou basketball team that won the state championship his senior year and graduated in 1979.

After working out with some of his campaign staff and high school teammates for nearly two hours, Obama emerged from the Thurston Center wearing a Punahou baseball cap.

He waved to parents, staff and students and hugged his high school dean, Paula Kurashige, whom Obama said helped get him into college.

A few minutes later, University of Hawai'i students Craig Dias, 19, of Makaha, and Leah Yamamoto, 19, of Kailua, were driving around the Ward Complex of shops looking for a place to eat when they saw Obama's entourage pull into Kua 'Aina.

"We were going to eat someplace else and then we saw him," Dias said.

Obama ordered six half-pound cheeseburgers, eight third-pound cheeseburgers, 10 kids' burgers and 20 orders of fries, owner Bryan Botelho said.