Obama's Annual Hawaiian Vacations (Honolulu, Hilo: gated community, living, restaurant)

[Sherwoody]

I'm curious how you all living on Oahu feel about these family holidays. Does the entourage come and go pretty much unnoticed or is a spectacle and create traffic nightmares everywhere he goes?

I remember way back when Dan Quayle was VP he had intended to visit Maui and possibly charter a boat out of Lahaina. The advanced team even sent scuba divers to search the harbor for hours before his intended arrival. You guessed it, he never did come to the harbor and may (don't recall) have skipped Maui altogether.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Sherwoody

I'm curious how you all living on Oahu feel about these family holidays. Does the entourage come and go pretty much unnoticed or is a spectacle and create traffic nightmares everywhere he goes?

I don't live that far from where he stays.

It is mostly low-key. He stays in a gated community and unless you go out of your way to find that area - you don't notice anything from the main road, you actually have to turn off the main road into the gated community before you even get to the first checkpoint.

As far as the beach goes - except for the patch of beach directly in front of where he stays which is closed off (with no visible barriers) - you don't notice anything different.

When he and the family goes out - it is a full motorcade. Generally the traffic isn't tied up very long. He generally goes to Morimoto's in Waikiki every year and that tends to be the area where people feel pain from traffic. Otherwise, it is mostly unnoticed. You can actually hang out by the gated area where he stays and wait for the motorcade for when he does golf/workout every morning.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

I don't live that far from where he stays.

It is mostly low-key. He stays in a gated community and unless you go out of your way to find that area - you don't notice anything from the main road, you actually have to turn off the main road into the gated community before you even get to the first checkpoint.

As far as the beach goes - except for the patch of beach directly in front of where he stays which is closed off (with no visible barriers) - you don't notice anything different.

When he and the family goes out - it is a full motorcade. Generally the traffic isn't tied up very long. He generally goes to Morimoto's in Waikiki every year and that tends to be the area where people feel pain from traffic. Otherwise, it is mostly unnoticed. You can actually hang out by the gated area where he stays and wait for the motorcade for when he does golf/workout every morning.

White Viper, what about the shave ice place that he likes to go to? Isn't that in Kailua?

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

White Viper, what about the shave ice place that he likes to go to? Isn't that in Kailua?

It is (Island Snow) - although, when he goes there it is during the day and not very disruptive. He sometimes goes to Buzz's Steakhouse in Kailua (not really my favorite place for steak - he should call me ).

From a beach perspective - they usually go to Bellows - which is closed to the public during the week anyway. He works out at the Marine Corp base - and golfs there also. He also plays at Mid-Pacific country club in Kailua. They always make a restaurant hop to Alan Wong's which isn't nearly as disruptive as when he goes to Waikiki. While they do go out and about - they are also homebodies on the Hawaii trip.

[Tuck's Dad]

Mostly it's a non issue. When he travels to and from traffic gets pretty ugly and stays snarled for an hour or two afterwards - and we know ugly traffic here in Honolulu!!!

It's a little weird seeing guys dressed in all black with military rifles standing on the bridges/overpasses before and after the motorcade.

[tdr22]

Hope they do not stop by Maui since it appears to cost local taxpayers some money. While Oahu did seek reimbursement at least one year, they never got it so neither county bothers to try anymore. Sad. Local taxpayers fund at least $350K in security costs for Obama Hawaiian vacations | Hawaii Reporter

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by tdr22

Hope they do not stop by Maui since it appears to cost local taxpayers some money. While Oahu did seek reimbursement at least one year, they never got it so neither county bothers to try anymore. Sad. Local taxpayers fund at least $350K in security costs for Obama Hawaiian vacations | Hawaii Reporter

The publicity alone is worth way more than $350K to Oahu - all the morning news shows have anchors in Hawaii doing live reports - the word Hawaii is going to be repeated around the world over and over and over again - people around the world think if the US President goes there - maybe we should.

But don't worry - he's not going to Maui unless they somehow get a runway long enough to land Air Force 1 - the runway simply isn't long enough to land a 747.

[tdr22]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

The publicity alone is worth way more than $350K to Oahu - all the morning news shows have anchors in Hawaii doing live reports - the word Hawaii is going to be repeated around the world over and over and over again - people around the world think if the US President goes there - maybe we should.

But don't worry - he's not going to Maui unless they somehow get a runway long enough to land Air Force 1 - the runway simply isn't long enough to land a 747.

Wow I never thought of the possible good PR they would bring to the state! The first lady did come visit Oprah here in Maui last year, cost us >50k and not sure she helped bring more tourists here but could have. Great point viper

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

But don't worry - he's not going to Maui unless they somehow get a runway long enough to land Air Force 1 - the runway simply isn't long enough to land a 747.

That's why they have "Marine One."

Of course, the "spare" E-4 will probably sit around at ITO for the duration of Obama's visit on Oʻahu.


"Spare" E-4 in Hilo

[whtviper1]

There is no way he's going to take a helicopter over to Maui. I just don't see that happening under any circumstance.