12/22/2014
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It's been a long year for President Obama (see: ISIS, Ebola, Democrats' staggering loss in the 2014 midterms) -- and the commander-in-chief is in serious need of a little R&R.
On Friday, Dec. 19, he departed for a 16-day holiday in his native state, Hawaii. It's the family's sixth Oahu vacation since the president took office. Of course, there's no such thing as a work-free vacation for a sitting president, but Obama did tell reporters he hoped the trip would be a "quiet time-out" to enjoy the family.
ABC News is along for the ride, and we'll give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like on an Obama vacay:
Saturday, Dec. 20
Word From The White House
Late tonight in Hawaii -- just after midnight in Washington -- President Obama released the following statement on the killing of two New York City Police officers:
"I unconditionally condemn today's murder of two police officers in New York City. Two brave men won't be going home to their loved ones tonight, and for that, there is no justification. The officers who serve and protect our communities risk their own safety for ours every single day - and they deserve our respect and gratitude every single day. Tonight, I ask people to reject violence and words that harm, and turn to words that heal - prayer, patient dialogue, and sympathy for the friends and family of the fallen."
Obama Begins Vacation With Golf -- And News Of A Shooting
President Obama kicked off his first full day of vacation in typical fashion: A round of golf. Along with White House aides—and regular golf partners—Mike Brush and Joe Paulsen and childhood friend Bobby Titcomb, the president spent about 4 hours at the Kaneohe Klipper golf club on the grounds of Marine Corps Base Hawaii. As usual, the White House doesn’t release the scores.
The round, likely the first of many, kicked off a 16-day vacation that the President had hoped would give him time to recharge and take him away from the bad news of 2014. But Obama hadn’t even left the links when news broke of the brutal ambush killing of two New York City police officers. Obama’s Attorney General, Eric Holder, spoke for the administration with a statement calling the shootings an “unspeakable act of barbarism.” White House officials confirmed that the President had been briefed and was monitoring the situation.
Obama headed back to his vacation rental in Kailua after golf and the White House advised he’s likely not going out tonight.
--Jon Garcia
Friday, Dec. 19
Touch Down Oahu
Getting to paradise takes time. In the case of the First Family, a little more than nine hours.
Air Force One landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu a little after 10:38 PM local time, and according to a pool report, the president: “sans-blazer, walked down the stairs from AF1 alongside daughter Sasha, followed soon after by FLOTUS alongside Malia. The First Family was greeted by Admiral Samuel Locklear III, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command.”
After a quick chat, the presidential motorcade whisked the Obamas to the Kailua neighborhood of Oahu, which will be the First Family’s home away from Washington for the next two weeks.
“There were the occasional motorcade gawkers as we neared POTUS neighborhood but very few considering the late hour,” the pool reporter noted.
--Michael Falcone
And They're Off!
Just hours after the president's historic year-end press conference, the First Family boarded Marine One on the White House South Lawn.
The president is expected to spend plenty of time soaking up the sun, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, biking with his daughters, Malia and Sasha, and tasting local cuisine.
And we're willing to bet he'll squeeze in a few rounds of golf....
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