HA: President-elect Barack Obama left his vacation home at 7:19 a.m. today and the motorcade traveled to the Semper Fit Center on Marine Corps Base-Hawaii, arriving 7:29 a.m.
The president-elect had already entered the building by the time the press pool rushed out of the van to try to catch a glimpse.
After the pool made its morning stop at the base McDonald's, the press handler, Katie Lillie, was given an assortment of Navy paraphernalia that she was asked to give to her boss. The collection included a hat, book and two jerseys.
The book was “The Golden Thirteen,” which is about the first African-American naval officers.
The hat was marked “U.S.S. Lake Erie.”
And it was a Navy basketball jersey and warm-up.
Lillie also staffed a request made by an enlisted man who stopped by to say that he and his buddies wanted to play a game of basketball with the president-elect, if Obama's vacation schedule allowed.
At 9:05 a.m., Obama left the center and greeted several dozen soldiers and their families standing in the parking lot. He was wearing a black hat, gray T-shirt and black sweat pants.
Obama also attended church today:
The president-elect was inside a black limousine. At 1:55 p.m., the motorcade arrived at the First Unitarian Church, which is at the intersection of the Pali Highway and Niolopa Place.Vacation photos
The church was a two-story home that was converted to a church. It was light tan in color. Members of the press pool was not allowed to leave the van, other than very briefly to snap a few photos of the outside of the church.
At 2:58 p.m., the motorcade left the church.
Earlier today, Obama left his vacation home at 7:19 a.m. today and the motorcade traveled to the Semper Fit Center on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, arriving at 7:29 a.m.
