Obama's Hawaii Vacation: Going To Exclusive Oahu Resort (PHOTOS)

President-elect Barack Obama, returning to his home state of Hawaii for the holidays, plans a beachside vacation at one of Oahu's most exclusive properties, according to an islander involved in the planning.

Arrangements are being finalized for the Obamas and the families of two or three friends to stay at a Kailua beachfront location with three modern, multi-million-dollar homes. Each wraps around a lagoon-style swimming pool, with palm trees, grassy lawns and retractable glass walls for postcard views of the white sand and windsurfers.

Check out these pictures of Obama Body surfing. For more pictures of the Obamas in Hawaii go here.

Obama and his friends plan to rent the privately owned homes for several days including Christmas, said the islander, a Democratic activist who spoke Thursday night on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to reveal the details.

The property is located across the island from metropolitan Honolulu, in a residential section of trendy Kailua. The 2.5-mile beach is popular with local families as well as tourists, and has been rated by travel magazines among the best beaches in the world.

The property also has a sweeping view of the Koolau Range, a lush, forested ridge that forms the backbone of East Oahu.

Obama's spokesman would not comment on his holiday travel plans.

Gov. Linda Lingle indicated this week that that Valerie Jarrett, a close Obama friend and adviser who is co-chair of his transition office, would accompany Obama to the islands. Lingle said she intended to meet with Jarrett.

The governor also invited Obama to meet with her, her spokesman said.

Obama was most recently in Hawaii in October to visit his ailing grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who raised him for much of his youth. Dunham died Nov. 2 at the age of 86, two days before Obama won the presidency.

While in Hawaii Obama also is expected to pay tribute to his grandmother, who was cremated, with a private family ceremony.

Comments

[joycehelene]

I hope President-elect Obama and his family and friends have a lovely Christmas vacation, he certainly deserves to have some peace and quiet before the big ceremony on Jan. 20, 2009 and all the work he will have before him when he becomes President. So far he is doing a fantastic job with his cabinet and other appointments. Returning to the state where he spent his growing up years and attending the Memorial for his beloved Grandmother is so important for him. I hope he stays in the best hotel in the world, nothing is too good for him now that he will be the President of the United States.

[manOtunes]

It's fine to report that Obama will be vacationing in Hawaii, but to actually specify the location of
the house seems extremely reckless. There are many people (God-forbid) who want to cause
him harm.... The press should never give out such details. I'm confident that the O team will take
major security precautions, but I'm still concerned.

[lynnn]

This AP reporter (RITA BEAMISH) is apparently a repub. and is still upset about the 08' election. I feel sorry for her attempt to let every other OB hater know exactly the "what, when, and where" of the president elect's where about. With that said, I hope she knows we are on to her sham.
Shame on you Rita Beamish. I guess when you go on vacation we should report where you will be staying and all your arrangements.

[politicalminded]

Absolutely.

[givethatmanaraise]

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[Dustee]

He certainly deserves a nice break after this election season and loosing his grandmother.

Enjoy yourself Obama family! There's a lot of work waiting for you. God bless.

[FirstShirt]

Hey, I'm a republican and I say give the guy a break. The election is over and he will now be our President.

Wish him well. Wish him health. He has a big job and needs all of our support.

Another election will be here before you know it and the gloves will come off, but for right now, give the guy a break!

[willwallace]

You are correct, we must pray for PE Obama and his family and this country, military and the Iraqi people, they all need our prayers.

[Nitalia]

If Obama takes a leak- I think the media wants to know about it!

I would prefer Christmas in Aspen myself as oppose to Hawaii and I hate cold weather, but somehow Christtmas and cold weather sort of go together. I know this sounds crazy!

Oh and I love the shirtless pose- chest hair would be nice, but great body O!

[NewCenturyWoman]

Chest hair? Didn't you read the HuffPost blog that talked about BO's facial hair (or lack there of). He's not a very hairy guy; I think it's genetic (Kenyan father). However, if you notice on the photo where he is wearing only swimming trunks, he does have body hair (you can see a little just below the belly button, and beyond, I'm sure). And, of course, who has not noticed those thick dark eyebrows of his.
No complaints here.

[willwallace]

Thats the first thing I said, chest hair? I cant believe I am talkn to women hot for obama and body hair

[RCLGuard]

I think I'm in love.

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

For a skinny guy, our President is HOT!

[speakyourmind]

I agree!!

[bamidele]

The Wall St. Journal posted an article about John Thain requesting a $10M bonus for 2008.
Either he is out of touch with the economic reality most people are facing or he just arrogant and does not care about the thousands of investors in Merrill Lynch that have lost tons of money following the advice of ML brokers about "hanging in there." I was advised by my broker to do just that when I wanted to bail out early. Although I would have lost about 10% of my portfolio it was nothing near the amount I have lost recently by staying in the market.

[philosopherkingtomas]

Relax and enjoy! Thanks for all the inspiration and hard work you do !

[hortonhearsawho]

Motel Six was all booked, hell send me the bill Mr. President, i'll glady pay it for you and our country.

[Nitalia]

Do you think Obama want's to be President of this failing nation so bad that he would produce a phony birth certificiate to do it? I mean, this isn't exactly the Prestigious job it used to be. George Bush made certain of that!

[willwallace]

Thats only your opinion Nitalia, I dont agree with it

[fullermike]

He has to go make sure the phony birth certificate is in the Hawaii file !!!

[Solja]

What an idiotic statement. Shut your piehole!

[amistad]

tin foil hat t r o l l,
You need to go get a life.
Now I know it is hard for people like you to get used to a black man being President. Do try to get over it, though.

[onwuakor]

he is american citizen her mom gave birth to him in hawaii so get over it.
you conservative nuts can even stand to see him president.well cry me a river.

[kemet06]

Thats not so much a conservative nutt that said that but a RACIST nut. No one gave this much hell to John McCain as he was born in the panama canal...
And there is NO EVIDENCE that Obama was born outside of the united states. LET IT GO. He is the president. Get ready to call him "Mr. President."
And Stop Calling him Barry! His name is Barack!

[Ropate]

FYI...Self Guided Tour Page for tour of Barry's old neighborhood is here...

http://obamasneighborhood.com/makiki.html

[Progress08]

I'm starting to wish I lived in Hawaii (mainly because it's 27 degrees where I am).

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

Much of Hawaii, yes....but most of Honolulu, no thanks! It's just another relatively large city with HORRIBLE traffic and extremely high real estate prices.

[Ropate]

Barry's return to Hawaii (not to mention his ascension to the Presidency) is the best thing that could happen to our beleaguered tourism situation. Local tours to his old neighborhod of Makiki are springing up and there's even a website called Obamasneig­hborhood.c­om that offers a self-guided tour of the area.

I think it's also incredibly important for people that people on the Mainland understand how important Hawaii was in the formation of Obama's character/psyche.