Obama in Hawaii

I'm in Hawaii. No big deal (but really nice). So are the Obamas. And everyone here is aware of the fact that they are here. There was a lot of Obamamania in Hawaii before they arrived -- t-shirts and knick knacks with Obama family faces. And on the Windward side of the island where they are staying, lots of extra traffic and people hoping to catch a glimpse of the American royal family.

The two main Hawaiian newspapers, the Honolulu Advertiser and the Star Bulletin carry daily stories about Obama. Both newspapers encourage residents to send in any photos or sightings of Obama., but so far there hasn't been much that the AP hasn't covered. Some of the reporting is so mundane as to be laughable. For example:

The motorcade left the overlook at 3:47 p.m. and was back at the Kailua vacation compound where the Obama party is staying at 4:26 p.m. Obama's motorcade initially departed the compound at 1:33 p.m. 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 Pali Highway and Niolopa Place.

No detail is overlooked, but there's not a lot to report. Obama spent some time honoring his grandmother in a brief family-only ceremony. before Christmas But in the few days they have been here, their routine has been -- well, pretty routine. The Obamas are in Hawaii for a brief period of respite before the president-elect takes on the problems of the world. Most everyone here understands that, but the intense curiosity persists.

One of the big new items of the past several days was the photos a parapazzi (or is the singular of paparazzi "paparazzo"?) took of the quite fit Obama shirtless on the Hawaii beach where he is staying. You would have thought he was in a thong the way the media covered it. Of course the Drudge Report had to run a comparison photo of Putin shirtless with Obama, and given the readership of the Drudge Report, Putin was winning.

Most Hawaiians are quite respectful of Obama's privacy and hope he can maintain it while he is here. Still, the incredible connection Obama has made with ordinary voters puts him beyond ordinary celebrity status.

Kailua resident Serena Rovin and her three friends were among beachgoers hoping to get a chance to meet Obama. The group of friends are on a winter break from their studies at Western Washington University. Friend Jennifer Lowe said it is exciting the president-elect is staying in the small, quaint town.

"He's such an inspiration," she said.

As for me, I haven't seen Obama yet. I'm staying on the opposite side of the island and don't plan to make the 45 minute drive over the other side before I leave. But I understand the fascination and the need to find out what he is doing each day. When we eat at Ono's, I think of Obama growing up in Honolulu and eating kalua pig or laulau (pork wrapped in taro leaf). And at sunrise -- which those of us from the mainland see every morning because we are awake at that time -- I think about what he might be doing today.

You can't escape Obamamania in Hawaii and you wouldn't want to. The only annoying part is the commentators from the mainland who persist in trying to make this some kind of exclusive over-the-top vacation. Obama doesn't own a ranch in Santa Barbara like Reagan or an estate in Kennebunkport like Bush 41 or a ranch in Texas like Bush 43. He has a house in Chicago (and we know what the weather there is like this week!). He is about to take over the toughest job in the world. It seems only fitting that he spend the few remaining days he has as a semi-ordinary citizen in the place he grew up. He doesn't own a fancy house here. He is renting with his own money. Most decent people wish him a restful vacation.

Update: the Oahu blackout was actually pretty dramatic. And surprising that the Secret Service had not provided Obama's house with adequate backup generators. Still, most people here note that Hawaii is one of the safest places Obama could be because of the depth of the military presence here. His rented house is only 5 minutes from a military base and the island of Oahu is constantly monitored by the military for any potential terrorist attack. No Pearl Harbor surprise will be tolerated here they say. What was amazing about the blackout was that it lasted a full twelve hours for most people, and those who were caught with not much gas in their tanks or who were on the upper floors of high rises had some interesting choices to make -- stick it out and eat what you have available or walk down and walk back up in the dark.

Comments

[edisedis]

I think the biased Republican media is just upset that they lost this time and they are proving themselves to be sore loosers. Let's face it...the best man won the elections (thank God!) and they need to just get over it and stop nit picking at every little thing Obama and his wife wears. We have more serious issues to worry about besides that these days.

[buzzygirl]

Very nice post. And thank you for making that point that press corps from this end is making it seem like Obama owns this million dollar home. Their reporting is so over the top, and they can't seem to understand that people are wishing this man well.

Like you said, he is about to take on a most difficult job, and to top it off, he is on a well-deserved vacation. He has been running non-stop. Where John McCain had a few couple of months to take a breather after cinching his nomination, Obama was still duking it out with Hillary. And then after his historic win over McCain, the next day according to reports, he was up at the crack of dawn, tending to the business of the country, and has not stopped ever since, until the day he took off for Hawaii.

Thank you so much for this post. It would do some of the main land reporters some good to read this.

[CalGoldenBear]

Apparently as a visitor to Oahu, Ms. Bergthold has little, if any, directional awareness.

According to her report, the Obamas are staying "on the West side of the island." Oahuans know that Kailua is on what we refer to as the "Windward Side" of Oahu. If one wants to be geographically specific, Kailua is on the northeast side of Oahu. But "West side," no way.

Also, from the central business district (CBD) in downtown Honolulu, it should take only about 30 minutes or less to drive to Kailua. (Unless you absolutely have to do it during morning or afternoon rush hour).

She does get credit for being aware of Ono Hawaiian Foods, which is located just outside Waikiki. Just a few blocks closer to Waikiki is Rainbow Drive Inn, which PEOTUS Obama mentioned to the crowd at Keehi Lagoon Park, just minutes after landing with his family at Honolulu International Airport, on 8/8/08.

Finally, people who live on Oahu are Oahuans. And "The Oahuan" is the name of the yearbook for Punahou School students in grades 9-12. (Punahou was originally called "Oahu College" when it was founded in 1841 for educating children of Congregational (now United Church of Christ) missionaries in Hawaii). So when Punahou athletes receive an embroidered letter for being on a varsity team, they get an "O" rather than a "P."

[Damini]

Nice post. Myself, I would drive 45 minutes to see him and his family. I'd probably just smile and wave to them from afar. Here in the mainland, I've seen him several times - long, long drives and hours and hours of waiting, but all worth it.

[Paresh]

Congratulations, Linda, for even suspecting that there might be an problem here. You are totally right. Paparazzo is indeed the singular of paparazzi. Not a lot of people -- hey, not most people -- know that. If this makes me a language nerd, so be it. Knowing stuff is GOOD.

[Kiabell04]

Awesome article Linda! I hope you do spot Obama, and thank you for pointing out the media trying to make Obama's trip seem as if he's some super rich celebrity. I think by himbeing ordinary, it's too boring for the media, so they sensationalize that crap outta everything Obama does.

[Kiabell04]

This is a trip, but naturally being that Obama is the 1st black president, he's going to be treated like a carnival attraction. But, I'm pretty sure he and Michelle get overwhelmed by it all, and that utter lack of privacy.

[Seb348]

I still can't believe we have a black president and first lady.

The entire south is shaking in their boots right now. Now that's progress.

[Figerre]

Thank you for a well balanced report. yes, apparently most of the US reporters have not taken any geography or American history classes since 7th grade and forgot the Hawaii is a state.

I too am really glad Obama and his family is having this short time to relax and rejuvenate before taking on the presidency - considering what hell awaits his desk when he gets there. In addition, there is also finding a place to live so the girls can get into school Jan 5 - I do think it was a bit nasty not to allow them to move into Blair house, or whatever it is called, prior to the 20th. After all, they have young children changing schools and no one likes starting a new school after the semester starts when you stand out like a sore thumb. Not that they aren't going to stand out anyway - but still.

If it was booked for parties and guests - you would think it would be easier to move visitors to a temp residence, than let the President Elect, his family and his Secret Service, try to find him a safe location to stay so the girls can start school. Oh, Yeah. Maybe they could use Cheney's 'undisclosed location' since apparently he is out of hiding and busy revising history.

[lafrance]

t's nice that Hawaiians are giving Obama space and respect for privacy. They are excited to have a homeboy become the president. Hawaii has been left out of politics since becoming a state and it is exciting for them to have pride in one of the their own making good.
Those of us in Illinois know how they feel. We share in their pride and excitement.

Sadly, it seems the 'mainland' press is determined to make Obama someone he is not. and find a reason to criticize and tarnish as someone who is basically decent family man and normal guy.
He goes to the beach with his family for some relaxation and suddenly it is turned into something more. He goes to his boyhood home state of Hawaii and suddenly it's he's vacationing in an exotic locale like a jet setter (it's Hawaii, one of the 50 states - hello. I never saw them call Alaska exotic with Palin or try to insinuate that it's not part of the US). He rents a house for his friends and family to stay and suddenly it's an Italian villa.
this is what we get to look forward to for 4 years. While the press utterly failed for 8 years giving Bush and cronies a pass, excusing their criminal doings, we will get every move scrutinized and made to sound sleazy.

[yappnmutt]

its kailua pork not kalua pork. laulau is a lot more than pork wrapped in taro leaves.

if you spent your time learning about the hawaiian way of life you might gain some insight in the influences that formed obama's style of leadership. it may not be easy, though. the local way adapts pretty easily to mainland culture but the opposite is not necessarily true. that's part of the reason some locals don't welcome mainlanders.

[opunuinui]

My dear Yappnmut,
Where are you from? Certainly not anywhere near Hawaii. For if you were indeed familiar with these islands - my home for nearly fifty years - you would would not be calling Kalua Pig "Kailua Pork" and then go on to pontificate about your knowledge of Hawaiian culture and the way it is reflected in P.E. Obama's style. Auwe!

[Crypsis]

Seriously; Yappnmutt, are you one of those mainlanders who's moved here but remains stubbornly clueless about local culture (like, still pronounce it "Hanalooloo?"). Opuinui's right; it's kalua pig. And the idea that local culture "adapts" to Western culture is debatable. Depends on who you talk to, I guess. You'd adapt too if you had an entire civilization stamp itself on your home island. What choice would you have?

By the way, I'm not sure Hawaiians would agree that locals "adapted" to European civilization so well. In the fifty years after Cook's arrival in 1778, almost 90% of the indigenous Hawaiian population died, mostly from disease.

[yappnmutt]

i realized after i posted i was wrong. aino can spell. auwe is right!

[mcantwell]

Quote: "Most decent people wish him a restful vacation." *Amen to that!

[HawaiiBill]

You beat me to it on Windward versus "West". She speaks of Mainland journalists and then makes one of their classic mistakes. And someone needs to inform her that you are not "Hawaiian" if you live here or are born here. Obama would NEVER refer to himself as Hawaiian, only that he is FROM Hawaii. Unless you are of Native Hawaiian heritage, it is inappropriate to refer to yourself that way.
Aloha and Merry Christmas!

[Linda Bergthold - Huffpost Blogger]

You both are exactly right! It's Windward not West. And not Hawaiian as one commenter noted-- "from Hawaii" -- we tourists are a pain in the neck I know, but we do spend at least some money here!

[Crypsis]

Careful here, Linda (at least if you're trying to give the appearance of not being what locals call your "typical Mainland haole"). When you meet some of the important figures in Hawaiian culture (that is, Native Hawaiians as distinct from "local culture"), you'll find a pretty widespread ambivalence if not antipathy toward the tourist industry (not tourists specifically, though there are some who take their post-colonial resentment out on them). But the tourist industry has effectively dispossessed Native Hawaiians of their ancestral lands, what they consider their birthright and their very identity, summed up in the Hawaiian word, 'aina. 'Aina means "land," but it also connotes human relationships to the land, which includes stewardship and spirituality.

To say that tourists should be appreciated because they "spend some money here" suggests you're taking the Western perspective: spending money is a good thing because it supports tourism (and therefore, so Reagan would have us believe, everyone else). But the revenue goes where you'd expect it to: more development, more Western culture and the devastation it brought with it (there's a reason that Hawai'i is called "the extinction capital of the world").

That's not to say visitors unwelcome. Hawaiians are very welcoming people, and want visitors to come and enjoy the Islands. But money isn't what people really want; it's being "pono," that is, moral, reciprocally respectful. That's a true Hawaiian value, and that's why I'm personally glad there's so much of Hawai'i in Obama.

Thanks for the post!

[beijiahe]

Not that it's that crucial for everyone to know, but he's staying on the Windward side of the island, in Kailua. NOT the WEST side of the island. It would actually be the EAST side of the island, last I checked.

[AirForceBlue]

Your lead "brief respite before the President Elect takes on the problems of the world................" only too well nails exactly what is wrong with this country. Puzzled? Well, you shouldn't be as "taking on the problems of the world" means, since WWII, leading the world. In effect, this country has sent off our young men and women to die or suffer, and spent our way to pauper-dom "taking on the problems of the world."
What we need to see on these pages is an attitude change by leading bloggers recognizing that world leadership has been our growing power and success, at first, but now our decline. Sometimes along the way we have had allies' support, but too often the world has held our coat as we've set off "taking on the problems of the world." Sheesh....enough.
C'mon HuffPo, bloggers, readers, wake up................time to pull back from the entire world and no longer waste our men and women, stop enriching the Europeans ducking responsibility ('cause "let the USA do it" is their attitude) and above all, heal US(A).
Sorry, any lecture about how we MUST lead is only a load of crap to this experienced writer. I may agree that isolationism is ultimately bad for this country, somewhat, but looking out for #1 first is a viable priority/approach. Indeed,we can maintain humantarian leadership, but military deployment and/or shuffling plane loads of cash to worldwide problem areas are not acceptable answers any longer.

[lafrance]

To a degree I agree. We spend far too much time, treasure and precious lives on the problems of other countries that do not really want our help or interfering. And we have lost way too many good paying jobs to globalization.
We do need to pull back and fix what is wrong at home and invest in our own people and country.
We spend our money on fixing other countries while ours is eroding by the day. i.e. New Orleans, Houston and Galvaston coastal area, infrastructure, schools, ect.,
Investing into our own people in need and in trouble.
But, we cannot pull back completely. We cannot insulate ourselves from the world. We need to find a balance. Helping when needed and wanted but, also stop ignoring our own. And keeping jobs here.
Our current recession falling fast into a depression will not end unless we have jobs, and real jobs that pay a living wage again, here instead of in 3rd world countries.

[vjoseph]

Its funny, but as a Canuck who resides in the US, I actually agree with you. I think its time for the world to stop behaving like the US is their police and take care of their own damn problems for a change. They always want the United States to save them and then complain when the United States does just that. I think the US should reduce its involvement in all the world's problems

[Charmed]

Nice article....the mainland pundits are determine to make him exotic......he grew up in Hawaii so he is home. They keep talking about the 9 million dollar house he is renting without ever highlighting the apartment building he grew up in.