"Obama, family end Isle vacation"

Honolulu Advertiser:

KAILUA — President-elect Barack Obama will leave today after a 12-day, low-profile vacation in the Islands spent golfing, working out, taking his family on a few outings and memorializing his grandmother, who died two days before his historic election.

The holiday — meant as a quiet reprieve before his Jan. 20 inauguration — thrilled Obama supporters here, many of whom tracked down the president-elect for autographs, photos or even a quick glimpse, pat on the back or handshake. It also delighted the small Kailua neighborhood where Obama stayed.

"It's been very exciting," said Linda Oifer, who lives down the street from the Kailuana Place compound where the Obamas spent the holidays. She added that the extra security in the community, including a flood of Secret Service agents, hasn't been much of a hassle. Any inconvenience, she said, was worth it since they got to wave to Obama almost daily as he passed by in his motorcade.

Mike Kilpatrick, who also lives in the area, agreed.

"It was no inconvenience at all," he said. "We hope that he comes back."

On his last full day in the Islands yesterday, Obama's motorcade left his rental compound at 7:40 a.m. and arrived at the Semper Fit Center at Marine Corps Base Hawaii within 10 minutes. He worked out for about an hour, and stopped outside the gym afterward for about three minutes to greet at least 100 well-wishers, some of whom got themselves photographed with Obama.

"Thank you for your service, guys," Obama told Marines in the crowd.

Among those Obama posed with was 9-month-old Peyton Highfill, the daughter of Kane'ohe Marine Travis Highfill. Peyton's mother, Shanell Highfill, said she and her husband came to the gym hoping to see Obama in person. After they got their wish, they were all smiles.

"We were just so excited to meet him," said Highfill.

After his workout, Obama returned to his vacation home and didn't leave for the rest of the day.

He spent New Year's Eve in Kailua "celebrating with friends," spokesman Ben LaBolt said.

Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, are to leave Hawai'i today about 1 p.m., for Chicago. Then, as early as this weekend, they'll head to Washington, where the girls will start school and Obama will prepare for his inauguration.

During his stay in the Islands, which began Dec. 20, Obama has played several rounds of golf, worked out almost every day, and has taken his family to Sea Life Park, for shave ice at Koko Marina Center and to the Honolulu Zoo. On Christmas Day, he dropped by Marine Corps Base Hawaii for about an hour to share holiday greetings with mostly single Marines and sailors eating a holiday meal.

And on Dec. 22, Obama and his family finally got the chance to honor the memory of his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who raised him in the Islands. After a private service, he scattered her ashes at Lana'i Lookout, the same spot where Obama scattered the ashes of his mother in 1995.

Dunham, who was 86, died of cancer two days before Obama's presidential win.

Obama was last in the Islands in October, to visit his ailing grandmother.

He last stayed in Kailua in August, when he took a one-week vacation with his family.

Obama was born in Honolulu and graduated from Punahou School. He has routinely made Christmas visits to the Islands but missed a trip in 2007.

Barack Obama