Obama Arrives in Hawaii Video

Obama is joining his family and Bo. They arrived in Hawaii Dec. 18. Obama stayed behind until Congress finished its work. Hitching a ride home on Air Force One: Sen. Daniel Akaka and Rep. Mazie Hirono:

After a 10-hour flight, President Barack Obama arrived in Honolulu under a waning moon on a humid night.

It was 74 degrees with humidity climbing past 88 percent at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam when Air Force One touched down at 11:49 p.m.

About five minutes later, Obama appeared in the doorway of the jet wearing a long-sleeve white dress shirt and khaki long-pants. He waved to the members of the press.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) followed the president down the stairs. Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Gary North, 15th Wing Commander Sam Barrett, and Air Force Capt. Tyisha Owens greeted Obama and Owens presented him with a lei.

Obama got into his black SUV and the motorcade departed within 10 minutes.

The ride to his vacation home lasted 25 minutes, with the motorcade arriving in Kailua at 12:25 p.m. Read the rest here

Obama Ices Annual Hawaii Trip Until Congress is Done for the Year

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday that President Obama will postpone his Hawaii Christmas vacation until Congress adjourns for the year.

The outgoing Democratic Congress still has much work to do before adjourning on a number of issues key to the administration. The Hill

The Obamas Arrive Back in DC all Bundled Up Video

No more Secret Service in Hawaiian shirts.

Obamas Spent the Last Day in Hawaii at the Zoo

The Obamas will touch down in DC this afternoon after an overnight flight. The media is reporting that Obama has a full plate upon his return. He had a full plate while he was in Hawaii and he had a full plate when he left. As long as Obama is president, he's going to have a full plate.

See the Obamas Hawaii departure video here.

On the last day of his Hawaiian vacation, President Barack Obama declared that he did not want to go home.

Asked during an after-hours tour of the Honolulu Zoo if he was ready to head back to Washington, Obama and his family replied in unison: "No!"

"Let's stay," first lady Michelle Obama joked to reporters. "We'll all stay. Are we all in? I'm trying to mount a coup."

The president spent some of the final hours of his 11-day trip at the zoo, on the golf course and visiting the cemetery where his grandfather is buried.

Obama's Sunday began in the way he started each of his vacation days: at the gym. Afterward, he played 18 holes on the Marine Corps Base Hawaii's Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course with his friends Marty Nesbitt of Chicago and Bobby Titcomb and Mike Ramos of Hawaii.

Obama's motorcade then headed to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, where he spent about 10 minutes before heading over to the zoo to meet up with his wife and daughters, Sasha, 8, and Malia, 11. More at Politico

Obama also visited his grandfather's grave:

However, Obama's presidential motorcade did take a trip to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl yesterday.

The ashes of Obama's grandfather, Stanley Dunham — a sergeant in Gen. George Patton's 7th Army in Europe — are in Court 1, Wall B, beneath a bronze plaque that honors the tall, silver-haired man Obama called "Gramps." HI

Obama Heads Back to DC Jan. 3

The Obamas visited the troops in Hawaii

Last night, the Obamas dined out. Today, they head back to the White House:

President Obama spent his last full night of vacation having dinner with the first lady and several friends at a popular local restaurant featuring Hawaiian cuisine.

It was a short meal by presidential standards. The Obama's were in and out of Lucy's Grill 'n Bar in almost exactly an hour and 45 minutes. Politico

If you missed the photos of the Obamas Christmas and their visit to Hawaii, you can catch up here.

Obama Gets a Snowbama Shave Ice

Obama may get more than just a shave ice named after him. Yesterday's outing to get shave ice at the Island Snow shop:

At least 100 people crowded around barricades yesterday afternoon outside the Kailua Island Snow shop to catch a glimpse of a casual President Obama, wearing sunglasses and dressed in shorts and a white T-shirt, enjoying shave ice with his daughters and about 16 friends.

Obama ordered shave ice for the group, going up to the counter with a long list of orders on lined notebook paper folded in half.

For himself, he ordered the shave ice named after him at the Kailua Road store — the Snowbama — which is a combination of lemon-lime, cherry and passion-guava.

"I like my shave ice straight, no frills," Obama explained.

The president's daughters, Malia and Sasha, were in shorts, sleeveless shirts and rubber slippers. More at HI

Obama Christmas Photos Take Two

See more Christmas photos here and here. Christmas video here and here and here and here.

Obamas meet Edith Childs, the Fired Up Ready to Go! inspiration lady that Obama often talked about during the campaign.
Obama meets with Denis McDonough in Hawaii on terror report
Choir at the White House
Obamas at taping of Christmas in Washington
Jill Biden volunteering at Walter Reed
Michelle Obama greets guests at holiday party

Obama Golfs in Hawaii Video

The Obamas head back to DC this weekend. This is from Obama's golf outing yesterday:

The swing:

Obama's Letter to CIA

In response to the recent deaths of CIA workers in Afghanistan:

To the men and women of the CIA:

I write to mark a sad occasion in the history of the CIA and our country. Yesterday, seven Americans in Afghanistan gave their lives in service to their country. Michelle and I have their families, friends and colleagues in our thoughts and prayers.

These brave Americans were part of a long line of patriots who have made great sacrifices for their fellow citizens, and for our way of life. The United States would not be able to maintain the freedom and security that we cherish without decades of service from the dedicated men and women of the CIA. You have helped us understand the world as it is, and taken great risks to protect our country. You have served in the shadows, and your sacrifices have sometimes been unknown to your fellow citizens, your friends, and even your families.

In recent years, the CIA has been tested as never before. Since our country was attacked on September 11, 2001, you have served on the frontlines in directly confronting the dangers of the 21st century. Because of your service, plots have been disrupted, American lives have been saved, and our Allies and partners have been more secure. Your triumphs and even your names may be unknown to your fellow Americans, but your service is deeply appreciated. Indeed, I know firsthand the excellent quality of your work because I rely on it every day.

The men and women who gave their lives in Afghanistan did their duty with courage, honor and excellence, and we must draw strength from the example of their sacrifice. They will take their place on the Memorial Wall at Langley alongside so many other heroes who gave their lives on behalf of their country. And they will live on in the hearts of those who loved them, and in the freedom that they gave their lives to defend.

May God bless the memory of those we lost, and may God bless the United States of America.

President Barack Obama

Yesterday, Obama visited an old friend in Hawaii. The Obamas will head back to DC this weekend. See vacation photos here. There haven't been many vaca photos this time around. Either the press was extra respectful, or were just busy themselves or the Obamas didn't make themselves available to the cameras.

President Obama paid a visit to an old friend on O'ahu's North Shore yesterday, on Day 7 of his vacation here.

He arrived at the Mokulē'ia home of high school friend Bobby Titcomb yesterday afternoon following a drive that took him past Aloha Stadium and Pearl Harbor, then Schofield Barracks and up to Dillingham Air Field. HI

Vacationing Limbaugh Rushed to Hospital

Update: Looks like Rush is going to pull through. Let's hope it helps make him a better man.

Hope the fuzzball makes it through the night.

Rush Limbaugh, who went to the hospital with chest pains, is vacationing in Hawaii with "the elite" (Obama and Nancy Pelosi) he so often rails against. Rush is NOT in the same hospital that Obama was born in--Kapi'olani. Rush is at Queens Medical.
With all that hate that courses through his body, I'm surprised his heart hasn't bursted already. That's how hate works. It eats your insides. I hope that he's well:

Limbaugh suffered from chest pains, sources said. Paramedics treated him and took him to Queen's Medical Center in serious condition.
He was seen golfing at Waialae Country Club earlier this week. The country club is next to the Kahala Hotel and Resort. Read more

Obama Gets a Hawaiian Rainbow

President Obama has begun his day, as usual, with a morning workout at Marine Corps Base Hawaii’s “Semper Fit” gym.

A media pool report from B.J. Reyes of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin said reporters were told first lady Michelle Obama was also there. More at HI

Obama's Update on Failed Attack Dec. 29

Obama says the system didn't work and intelligence wasn't able to piece together the bits of information it received. Obama also reiterates Napolitano's clarification yesterday after soundbite mania took hold:

Moreover, as Secretary Napolitano has said, once the suspect attempted to take down Flight 253, after his attempt, it's clear that passengers and crew, our homeland security systems, and our aviation security took all appropriate actions.

But what's also clear is this: When our government has information on a known extremist and that information is not shared and acted upon as it should have been so that this extremist boards a plane with dangerous explosives that could have cost nearly 300 lives, a systemic failure has occurred, and I consider that totally unacceptable.

He spoke from the Marine Corps Base in Hawaii:

Transcript

Obama Family Friend Injured in Hawaii

Apparently, the rumor mill is running at full speed. Everything is fine. No one tried to kill the president or the First Family or anyone. A child, on vacation with the Obamas, was hurt but is fine:

President Obama abruptly left the golf course Monday morning and returned to the home where he is staying in Lailua after the child of a family friend was reportedly injured there.

"The first family is fine," White House spokesman Bill Burton told the pool.

The child, whose father was golfing with Obama, was hurt in a "run-of-the-mill beach injury" and will require stitches, an official told the pool. More at Politico

Obama's Hawaiian Roots

In Hawaii, everyone's a minority.

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Obama's Former Teacher Says Obama a Listener

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The Obamas Visit Marines in Hawaii

On Christmas day, the Obamas visited with Marines in Hawaii and the Bidens visited Walter Reed. See photos of the Obamas visit with the Marines here.

The Obamas spent about half an hour in the mess hall shaking hands with Marines and their families as they ate traditional holiday fare of turkey, ham, stuffing, corn and broccoli.

“Hi guys, Merry Christmas,” President Obama said as he entered the mess hall from a side door.

The president and the first lady went from table to table, reaching roughly a dozen, asking Marines where they were from and thanking them for their service.

“I’m proud of you guys,” Obama said at one point. The president, who was casually dressed in brown slacks and blue shirt sleeves, also chatted with a small child and autographed a picture. More at Politico

The Obamas in Hawaii Live Stream

Live stream is over. The Secret Service gets to wear Hawaiian shirts:

The Honolulu Advertiser has a special Obama Ohana section here.

Obama Not Leaving For Hawaii Christmas Until Work Done

UPDATE DEC. 24: With healthcare passed in the Senate, the Obama family have left for Hawaii. Check out the Obamas Hawaii getaway here.

The healthcare vote has been moved from a nighttime vote to the morning of Christmas Eve.

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Obamas To Spend Christmas 2009 in Hawaii

Update Dec. 24: Now that health care is passed in the Senate, it's wheels up. The Obamas departed for Hawaii.

Update Dec. 23: Watch GMA video inside the Obamas getaway at Paradise Points Estate here.

Update Dec 22: Obama is not leaving on vacation until the work is done:

POTUS said he won't leave on vacation until: "I will not leave until my friends in the Senate have completed their work. My attitude is if they are making these sacrifices to provide health care to all Americans, the least I can do is be around and provide them any encouragement and last-minute help" they may need.

The Obama family is heading to Hawaii for Christmas. They will be staying here.

He is expected to arrive in Honolulu Dec. 23 and return Jan. 2, sources said.

Christmas in Hawaii has been an Obama tradition, although on previous trips home he visited his grandmother, Madelyn Payne Dunham, who died November 2008. Star Bulletin

OnOahu on Twitter is covering Obama's Christmas vacation. Lucky @chucktodd has mainstream media coverage duty.

Obama Sea Change

Gary Kamiya is among my favorite writers. Here is a portion of his special inaugural eve story:

Hawaii, for me, will always be the place where I not only survived, but partied in paradise while doing it. I'm still here, and now Obama -- a native son, no less! -- is president. So when Obama takes the oath in the frozen capital city on the opposite end of the country, I will be celebrating twice. And praying that just as I was healed, a sea change will come upon America like a great wave, washing away the last eight years.

Sea changes must go beyond politics. Things rich and strange are not conjured solely out of tax policy and health plans. Beginnings are a time for generosity, for personal dedication. Forty-seven years ago, a young president touched the hearts of his countrymen when he said at his inauguration, "Ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country." Today, another young president is calling for the same selfless commitment.

But as we watch the exit of the most destructive presidency in American history, it isn't easy to feel generous. Those of us who have watched in horror as George W. Bush and his accomplices wreaked havoc are torn today between joy and anger, the desire to turn the page and the need to see reality acknowledged and justice done.

I cannot forgive Bush for what he did. With reckless arrogance and blind stupidity, he trashed the country I grew up in and love. He has the blood of hundreds of thousands of people on his hands. He exalted greed and selfishness. He spied, tortured and kidnapped. He brought shame to our nation's name.

There must be a reckoning for such grave acts. Unless we acknowledge the grievous damage Bush did -- to the environment, to the economy, to Iraq and the Middle East, to our cherished tradition of civil liberties, to a world that desperately needed a wise and compassionate America -- we will leave ourselves open to making the same mistakes again. Unless we hold those who committed crimes accountable, we will degrade the rule of law, our highest values and morality itself. To free ourselves of the cancer that was the Bush years, we must see it clearly and cut it out.


But clinging to anger, however righteous, eventually corrodes one's soul. You become the thing you hate. You can't get to where you want to go if you are forever looking backward. Like millions of Americans, I have been living with anger and bitterness for much too long. In his second inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln asked Americans to finish their great appointed task "with malice towards none, with charity for all." Read it all.