December 2011 - Obama Christmas Vacation in Hawaii
(Visit the Obama Hawaii Vacation page on this website to see photos from all of his vacations)
President Obama and his family returned to Hawaii in 2011 for their annual Christmas vacation. The President arrived in Hawaii on December 23rd and joined First Lady Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha, who had arrived a week earlier. They departed on January 2nd. Unlike previous years where they stayed at the Plantation Estate, the Obama family stayed at another house in the same Castle Point neighborhood.
Kailua Beach area where President Obama's rental house is located
View of Obama rental house after palms were removed (2012 photo)
2011 Obama Kailua vacation house - CNN/David Dunham
Living room - CNN/David Dunham
Kitchen - Washington Post/David Dunham
Covered lanai - Washington Post/David Dunham
Walkway - Politico/David Dunham
Pool cabana - CNN/David Dunham
Pool - CNN/David Dunham
Castle Point area in Kailua
More information about the house where the Obama family is staying this year.
President Obama and dog Bo on Air Force One en route to Hawaii - White House
President Obama arrives at Hickam - AP
Michelle answers calls from children for the NORAD Tracks Santa program
The Obama motorcade returning from golf at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base - AP
President Obama calls 10 American service members on Christmas Eve
Obama family arrives at Christmas service at a chapel on base - AP
President Obama visits military families at Christmas dinner in Anderson Hall
The Obama family hikes on the Pillbox trail - nwn.blogs.com
The presidential motorcade arrives at Hanauma Bay - AP
Sea turtle release at Hanauma Bay - Limtiaco
President Obama, Malia and Sasha leave Sea Life Park with their friends - AP
President Obama leaves Island Snow after a shave ice stop - AP
President Obama prepares to lay a wreath at Pearl Harbor - Reuters
Petals thrown into water at Arizona Memorial - EPA
Presidential motorcade at Punchbowl cemetery - Getty
First Family exits the East-West Center - Reuters
President Obama swimming in the ocean at Pyramid Rock Beach on New Year's Day
- White House
The President and First Lady walk toward Air Force One - AP
The Obamas wave from Air Force One - Reuters
Friday 12/23/2011
- President Obama arrived at Hickam Air Force Base around 6:00PM local time
- Dinner in Waikiki at Morimoto restaurant
Saturday 12/24/2011
- Golf at the Kaneohe Klipper golf course at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH)
with Eric Whitaker, Mike Ramos, Greg Orme, Bobby Titcomb, Sam Kass, and Marvin Nicholson
- First Lady Michelle answered phone calls for NORAD's Santa Tracking Program.
- President Obama made phone calls to 10 American service members stationed around the world
- The Obama family spent a quiet Christmas Eve at home with close friends and the President's sister Maya Soetoro-Ng
Sunday 12/25/2011
- The Obama family attended a Christmas service at a chapel at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH)
- President Obama and the First Lady returned to MCBH in the afternoon to visit with service members and their families
- The Obama family enjoyed a Christmas dinner at their vacation home in Kailua with family and friends
Monday 12/26/2011
- Early morning workout at Semper Fit Center at MCBH
- First family went for a hike on the Lanikai Pillbox trail
- Golf at the Kaneohe Klipper golf course at MCBH
with Punahou friends Mike Ramos, Greg Orme and Bobby Titcomb
Tuesday 12/27/2011
- Morning workout at Semper Fit Center at MCBH
- Afternoon snorkeling at Hanauma Bay
- Visited Sea Life Park on the way back from Hanauma Bay
Wednesday 12/28/2011
- Golf at Ko'olau Golf Club in Kaneohe with Mike Ramos, Greg Orme and Bobby Titcomb
- Dinner at Alan Wong's Restaurant in Honolulu with friends and sister Maya Soetoro-Ng
Thursday 12/29/2011
- Morning workout at Semper Fit Center at MCBH
- Picnic at Pyramid Rock Beach at MCBH
- Stopped off at Island Snow in Kailua for shave ice
- Went to Pearl Harbor and placed a wreath at the USS Arizona Memorial honoring those killed in the attack there in 1941
Friday 12/30/2011
- Morning workout at Semper Fit Center at MCBH
- Golf at the Kaneohe Klipper golf course at MCBH with Mike Ramos, Greg Orme and Bobby Titcomb.
Saturday 12/31/2011
- President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act from his vacation rental in Kailua
- Celebrated New Year's Eve at home by holding their traditional talent show with family and friends
Sunday 1/1/2012
- Morning workout at Semper Fit Center at MCBH
- Visited the grave of his maternal grandfather, Stanley Dunham at
Punchbowl National Cemetery
- Toured an exhibit at Honolulu's East-West Center on the anthropological work of President Obama's mother, Stanley Ann Dunham
- Enjoyed three hours at the beach at MCBH in the afternoon
- Dinner at Nobu Waikiki with friends
Monday 1/2/2012 - LAST DAY
- Morning workout at Semper Fit Center at MCBH
- The First Family departed from Hickam Air Force Base around 5:40pm.
Eric Whitaker - Close Chicago friend; met Obama at Harvard Law; U of Chicago Medical Center executive
Marty Nesbitt - Close Chicago friend; President of "Parking Spot"; his wife who works at the U of Chicago Medical center delivered both Obama girls
Bobby Titcomb - Punahou friend; commercial fisherman who lives on Oahu
Mike Ramos - Punahou friend; businessman now living in Colorado
Greg Orme - Punahou friend
Sam Kass - White House chef and Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives
Marvin Nicholson - President Obama's new "body man" or personal assistant. Former White House trip director
Read about President Obama's favorite places to eat in Hawaii.