This post was written by P Ling, who is a travel writer for Uptake and also runs the Triphow blog.
A ‘Kamaaina’ in Hawaii is someone who is a native or has lived in Hawaii for a long time. President Barack Obama was born in Honolulu and spent most of his childhood and youth in Hawaii.
So when President Obama visits Hawaii along with First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia on a family vacation, it is as a Kamaaina.
As a travel writer, I always recommend travelers to get to know any place they visit like a local. Travel is not just about wearing sunglasses and a t-shirt, checking out the main tourist attractions and snapping pictures.
You need to understand the people, the culture, the food and feel comfortable talking, eating and traveling in a bus or train with the locals.
And who better to show you how to enjoy the many pleasures of the Hawaiian Islands like a local than their most famous son – President Barack Obama.
Just before he was sworn in as President, the Obamas took off on a 12-day year-end vacation to Kailua, in Oahu. If you would like to follow in the President’s footsteps and visit all the same places – an Obama-themed Hawaii vacation – then make note of the following places and activities:
- Tour of the USS Arizona Memorial
- Golf – Obama has teed off at golf courses including at the Olomana Golf Links and Luana Hills Country Club and the Mid-Pacific Country Club
- National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl (Obama’s grandfather is buried there)
- Valley of the Temples Memorial Park
- Visit to Aloha Tropical Farms, a macadamia nut farm
- Hanauma Bay – A popular snorkeling destination
- Sandy Beach – Obama’s favorite beach in Hawaii, where he goes body-surfing
- Nuuanu Pali Lookout – A historic and scenic tourist destination
- Honolulu Zoo
- Dolphin show at Sea Life Park
- Day-trip to Magic Island (Ala Moana Beach Park)
As for food, the President enjoys the restaurants of Kapahulu on the outskirts of Waikiki. He’s especially fond of plate lunches from the Rainbow Drive-In and the 24-hour Oahu mainstay, Zippy’s.
He took daughters Sasha and Malia, along with some friends, for some shave ice at Island Snow in Kailua. While he was playing golf at the Olomana Golf Links, Obama also wolfed down two spam musubis – which is a rice ball, with a slice of cooked spam on it and wrapped with nori, or dried seaweed.
Wouldn’t you love to enjoy a vacation in Hawaii, just like the President? If so, now you know what to do, where to go and what to eat.
Photo credits: Obama photos by senorglory; Plate lunch photo by hellochris; Shave ice photo by Inuyaki
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hey P Ling,
Nice write up. Something tells me that if I vacation in Hawaii I won’t get quite the same treatment as the President.
That said, I’ve always wanted to go to Pearl Harbor, and I hear the beaches in Hawaii are pretty nice too. Your post just motivated me a bit more. Thanks!
Steve, the trade show displays guru
.-= Steve@trade show displays guru´s last blog ..Carrot Love | Carrot Art =-.
would definitely enjoy the sun and surf in Hawaii but with much more privacy and freedom than what the president might have experienced. it was great that he got to spend a wonderful time with family and friends!
@Steve – You’re right, you won’t get the same treatment as the President. But there’s a good side to that – no secret service stopping you from just wandering around, and you can enjoy a swim or a meal without having photogs chasing you.
@MiaC – That’s what I think too. President Obama certaily seemed to be enjoying his vacation, even with all the publicity. It’s even more fun without all the restrictions he faces.
Leaving for vacation in Hawaii in 2 weeks and looking forward to visiting the places you mentioned, sans Secret Service. Thanks for the info!
Great information thanks for sharing this with us.In fact in all posts of this blog their is something to learn . your work is very good and i appreciate your work and hopping for some more informative posts . Again thanks for sharing.
is he really young obama?
.-= m4stono´s last blog ..Javanese Spiritualism part 2 =-.
It looks absolutely breath taking. Ever since I first saw Hawaii 5-0 (I know corny but hey the 70′s were cool!) and the mountains and beaches I fancied a visit, and Waikiki – ooh I wish I was there!…
some day I so want to visit Hawaii myself! Beautiful place!
.-= Ingrid´s last blog ..Biker-trio on the road =-.
yeah, you won’t get same treatment as Obama gets, but still if you are familiar with destination place then you can make your way out, Hawaii is beautiful destination and mine fav too including Lanai,Molokai, Ohau, Kauai and Nihau.
Glad to see your back to blogging. Looking forward to more posts!!!
Somehow I just can’t imagine President Obama eating some riceballs with cooked spam on them. I wouldn’t mind though, after a great day on the beach.
Man, I would LOVE to try one of those musubis!!! I’m a die-hard Spam fan anyway, but hooking it up with the nori must be the real deal.
It would be awesome to take a vacation but I am barely above water on the bills, something tells me you hav eto be as rich as a President now adays to take a avacation.
I do hope, O’ becomes a role model for other leaders in the rest of the world.
Like Ingrid i also want to visit Hawaii. I love the beaches! I also want to compare if beaches in Hawaii are comparable to Boracay in the Philippines.
.-= hypnosisadmin´s last blog ..Have You Ever Wanted Something So Much You Couldn’t Get It? =-.
Who really cares though what Obama eats or does on vacation?
.-= TV Stands´s last blog ..Big Screen TV Stands =-.
I do agree that travel is not just wearing sunglasses or snapping picture but we need to understand about the culture, the food, the people and join with locals.
seem Barak Obama is really love his motherland..
.-= stormcharity´s last blog ..The DINGO =-.
Thanks for the info. Hawaii is on my ‘to-do’ list of places to see, and now I know a bit more about what to look for when I get there. Of course, having some one else pay for it would be nice!
.-= scott@top gbg distributor´s last blog ..Congratulations – New Team Member Advancements! =-.
Beautiful place! I have always thought of visiting there but never got a chance, Will definitely visit some day there. It seems President Obama Had a lot of fun with his family out there. And i love that shave ice, its so cool and tasty. I would like to taste spam musubis, it look yummy!
I have been to Hawaii once…got to say… I wasnt a big fan
BTW its great to see some activity on this site again!!
Glad to see the activity!
Oh guest poster !! Where are you derek?
I love Hawaii….very cool club scene.
sorry wrong format
Would love to go to Hawaii, definitely love to try the surfing out there
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Compare the difference between package versus hotel deals. In my experience you’ll get a better deal overall with the travel package, which includes hotel, car and flights. However, there are always airfare deals out there, so shop around; you can always book the hotel special to obtain a free night (provided you book five nights).
Would love to go on holiday to Hawaii, however I’ll settle for Cornwall this year
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I think it is truly wonderful to have a president in the White House who can appreciate some great Hawaiian comfort food–who actually knows what a loco moco plate is and probably nibbles on malasadas and chichi dango, too. Sasha and Malia should convince their Dad to install a shaved ice machine at the residence.
Haha Awesome photos.
It’s always good to see a president on a personal level.
.-= Max´s last blog ..List of Web Design Mistakes You Should Avoid =-.
Obama was a cute kid
Not a big fan of Hawaii…was there on spring break, not enough nightlife.
I guess President Obama and family decided to try a different island vacation this month: Martha’s Vineyard versus Oahu. I wonder which one the kids prefer?
I too would love to check out the sites Hawaii has to offer – maybe soon! Need to add to my Forex Trading profits first!
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Dang… I wanna take a 12 day vacation in Hawaii! Hell, ill even take a week vacation in Vegas.
I would love to visit Hawaii. One of my best friends is from there.
That picture of Obama is very cool.
Those places to go would be at the top of my priority list.
All the best,
Eren Mckay
.-= Eren Mckay´s last blog ..Important papers organizer & how you can organize office papers =-.
Those are some nice pictures of Obama that I have never seen, thanks so much for sharing.
I went to Hawaii once, but I was on the way to Indonesia and didn’t get to spend much time. I would love to go back and vacation there. Nice post.
.-= Chuck @ Blogging For Profit´s last blog ..The Blogging Good, The Bad And The Ugly! =-.
I love how politicians spend our money
At least Obama is reforming the health care now, so let’s let him stay at any hotel he wants, as long as he accomplishes what he promised on the election.
Whoa, I would kill to be able to go on a vacation like that! I think the best one I’ve ever really had as a 5 day trip to Lake Tahoe!
That food in the photo really kind of looks gross! Jack – where in Lake Tahoe do you suggest going? I’ll be there next month and have never been.
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Like most of the people here in NZ we are pro Obama, and I have to admit to lean a little to the right.
Hawaii does sound fantastic.
I wonder what the family felt like when they had the most recent vacation, must be a little chaotic because Obama just won the presidential election. Anyway, I find the list helpful. My husband and I are planning to have our 2nd honeymoon vacation in Hawaii next year.
Sounds like he had a wonderful trip. i would love to follow in his footsteps if I just had the money he does! Well I will keep dreaming of my trip to Hawaii, maybe someday!
This brings back memories when I was in Hawaii with my wife… It was before the kids were born, and we had a wonderful time… Well, now I know what to do next time we go there…
Thanks: Rob
This looks like the best vacation ever! Thanks for posting this info for those of us who don’t know anything about Hawaii.
Well, I do love to enjoy a vacation in Hawaii like Mr. president, but I doult that the people in Hawaii will treat me like the president…
I obviously need to go on a vacation. I seem to be in front of the PC for years! The only tan i get is from monitor radiation. LOL
The food looks not very attractive! =(
Hawaii is such a great travel destination. I’m really surprised that there are other commenters here who don’t seem to like it. Maybe they didn’t go to the right places? Sandy Beach (which you mentioned) is pretty special–a good place to start a Hawaii trip.
.-= Spot@cheap cruise tips´s last blog ..LOST Hawaii =-.
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