December 2012 - President Obama's 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 originally left DC before Christmas on Friday evening (12/21) and arrived in Honolulu shortly after midnight. The President cut his vacation short and left Hawaii on Wednesday night (12/26) to return to Washington to work on a deal to avert the fiscal cliff. The rest of the First Family remained in Hawaii to finish up their vacation. The President returned to Hawaii on January 2nd for a few days before leaving again on January 5th.

 

2012 Obama Vacation Photos


  • Obama family arrives in Hawaii for vacation 2012

    The Obama family arrives at Hickam AFB in Honolulu - AP

  • Obama golfing at Kaneohe Klipper in Hawaii 2012

    President Obama at Kaneohe Klipper golf course - Natalie Nishida

  • Obama golfing at Kaneohe Klipper with Bobby Titcomb - 2012

    President Obama and friend Bobby Titcomb on 12/22/2012 - Kumo Photography

  • Obama at Punchbowl Hawaii 2012

    President and Mrs. Obama arrive at Punchbowl for Senator Daniel Inouye's
    memorial service - Reuters

  • Obama at Punchbowl with Irene Hirano Inouye in Hawaii 2012

    President Obama comforts Irene Hirano Inouye at her
    husband's memorial service - Reuters

  • Obama waving from car leaving the Semper Fit Center - Hawaii 2012

    President Obama returns from a workout at the Semper Fit Center - AP

  • Michelle Obama answers phone calls in Kailua vacation home - 2012

    Michelle answers calls from children for the NORAD Tracks Santa program
    - White House

  • Obama visits marines on Christmas - 2012

    President Obama and First Lady Michelle greet military personnel and their
    families at Anderson Hall on Christmas - Reuters

  • Obama swimming in ocean at Pyramid Rock Beach in Hawaii

    President Obama swimming in ocean at Pyramid Rock Beach (note: photo from Jan 1, 2012)
    - White House

  • Obama departs Honolulu Hawaii at Hickam - 2012

    President Obama waves goodbye as he heads back to Washington
    on Air Force One - AP

  • Obama arrives Honolulu Hawaii at Hickam - 2013

    President Obama returns again to Hawaii to finish up his vacation - EPA

  • Obama arrives Honolulu Hawaii at Hickam - 2013

    President Obama greets Admiral Locklear, Commander, US Pacific Command - EPA

  • Obama with shave ice - 2013

    President Obama stops by Island Snow
    for shave ice - AP

  • Obama at Island Snow for shave ice - 2013

    President Obama greets people as he leaves Island Snow - AP

  • President Obama and Michelle Obama at Hickam in Hawaii- 2013

    President Obama and the First Lady at Hickam on 1/5/2013 - AP

  • President Obama and Michelle Obama depart from Hickam AFB in Hawaii- 2013

    Back to Washington on Air Force One - AP



 

2012 Hawaii Christmas Vacation Itinerary

Friday 12/21/2012
  - President Obama departed Washington DC around 7:30PM EST and arrived at Hickam Air Force Base around midnight

Saturday 12/22/2012
  - Golf at the Kaneohe Klipper golf course at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) with Punahou friends Bobby Titcomb & Mike Ramos, White House chef Sam Kass, and aide Marvin Nicholson.
  - Dinner at Morimoto Waikiki restaurant

Sunday 12/23/2012
  - Attended the memorial service for the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl
  - First family went on a 2-hour hike along the Maunawili trail

Monday 12/24/2012
  - Early morning workout at Semper Fit Center at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH)
  - Golf at the Kaneohe Klipper golf course with friends Mike Ramos, Greg Orme, and Bobby Titcomb.
  - After golf, President Obama joined his family at Pyramid Rock Beach at MCBH
  - First Lady Michelle answered phone calls for NORAD's Santa Tracking Program.
  - President Obama made Christmas Eve phone calls to American service members stationed around the world
  - The Obama family spent a quiet Christmas Eve at home with close friends

Tuesday 12/25/2012
  - Early morning workout at Semper Fit Center 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 on Christmas
  - The Obama family enjoyed a Christmas dinner at their vacation home in Kailua with friends

Wednesday 12/26/2012
  - Early morning workout at Semper Fit Center at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH)
  - Final round of golf at the Kaneohe Klipper golf course with friends Bobby Titcomb, Mike Ramos, and Greg Orme.
  - After golf, President Obama joined his family again at Pyramid Rock Beach at MCBH
  - President Obama departed from Hickam Air Force Base shortly after 10:00pm.

Wednesday 1/2/2013
  - President Obama returned to Hawaii after announcing the House passed the fiscal cliff bill on New Year's Day
  - Shortly after arriving in Kailua, President Obama headed off to the Semper Fit Center at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) for an early morning workout.
  - Golf at the Kaneohe Klipper golf course at Marine Corps Base Hawaii with friends Marty Nesbitt, Bobby Titcomb, and Allison Davis
  - Dinner at Alan Wong's Restaurant in Honolulu

Thursday 1/3/2013
  - Morning workout at Semper Fit Center at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH)
  - President Obama took his daughters bowling at K-Bay Lanes at MCBH
  - After bowling, the President and his daughters stopped off at Island Snow in Kailua for shave ice

Friday 1/4/2013
  - Golf at the Palmer Course at Turtle Bay Resort with Bobby Titcomb, Marty Nesbitt, Sam Kass and Marvin Nicholson.
  - Dinner at Nobu Waikiki

Saturday 1/5/2013
  - Dinner at Buzz's Original Steakhouse in Lanikai
  - The First Family departed from Hickam Air Force Base around 9:40pm.

 

 

The 2012 Obama Kailua Rental Home

The Obama family returned to the same Kailua Beach home that they rented in 2011. Here is a blog post from last year about the rental home.

  • Obama rental house in Kailua in 2012

    2012 Obama Kailua Beach rental home (behind black fence) - Photo: Armchairhawaii.com

  • Obama 2012 rental house in Kailua

    This photo was taken a few weeks ago prior to the fence going up - Photo: Armchairhawii.com

  • Obama Kailua rental house - 2011

    2012 Obama Kailua vacation house - Photo: CNN/David Dunham

  • Obama Kailua rental house - 2011

    Living room - Photo: CNN/David Dunham

  • Obama Kailua rental house kitchen - 2011

    Kitchen - Photo: Washington Post/David Dunham

  • Obama Kailua rental house lanai - 2011

    Covered lanai - Photo: Washington Post/David Dunham

  • Obama Kailua rental house walkway - 2011

    Walkway - Photo: Politico/David Dunham

  • Obama Kailua rental home pool cabana - 2011

    Pool cabana - Photo: CNN/David Dunham

  • Pool at Obama house in Kailua

    Pool - Photo: CNN/David Dunham

  • Castle Point area in Kailua

    Castle Point area in Kailua

 

 

Who's who: Your handy guide to President Obama's vacation friends and staff

  • 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 Assistant Chef and the Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives

  • Marvin Nicholson - President Obama's "body man" or personal assistant. Also serves as White House trip director

  • Valerie Jarrett - Senior advisor and close friend; She hired Michelle while working for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley

  • Allison Davis - Close friend from Chicago; He was Obama's former law-firm boss at Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland

  • Marty Nesbitt - Close Chicago friend; Obama campaign treasurer; President of "Parking Spot"; his wife who works at the U of Chicago Medical center delivered both Obama girls

 

 

2012 Obama Vacation Videos



Obama Family Departs for Hawaii - Video


 

President Obama Speaks to Servicemembers on Christmas - Video


 

President Obama Returns to Hawaii to Resume Vacation - Video


 

President Obama Stops for Shave Ice at Island Snow - Video


Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

 

 

Obama Hawaii Vacation Map


Click on the markers below to see the places President Obama has visited on his previous Hawaii trips. View the full Obama Hawaii Vacation Map in Google Maps.


View Obama Hawaii Vacation Map in a larger map