BY MALIA ZIMMERMAN – KAILUA, OAHU – Residents living near the beachfront homes where President Barack Obama and First Family vacation with their friends every year since 2008 were alerted on Monday to some specifics of the Obamas’ holiday vacation plans.
The report delivered to residents living along the ocean and canal that surrounds the multi-million dollar homes at Kailuana Place where the President stays, informed them of restrictions that will be implemented for 20 days beginning December 17 and running through January 6.
In a matter of weeks, Kailua residents will see the familiar street barricades fronted by U.S. Secret Service agents and Navy Seals and the U.S. Coast Guard stationed in canal and ocean waters.
The President, who spent some of his childhood years in Hawaii, brings his wife, two daughters, Sasha and Malia, with dog Bo in tow, each holiday season. They settle into the small town community known for its spectacular sparkling beaches, warm turquoise ocean, rolling surf, country shops and restaurants and friendly people.
The homes where they stay are just a two-minute drive from Kaneohe Bay and the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where the Obamas and friends can access private white sand beaches and military workout facilities.
While many residents welcome the First Family, others are disheartened by the restrictions put on air, water and road travel while the President and family are in town, especially because it is the holiday season and many families on vacation want to use their boats or surf and paddle in the welcoming ocean waves fronting the Kailua homes. In addition, the President’s caravan of at least 22 vehicles including an ambulance can easily overwhelm the community that typically has single lane streets.
Adding to the controversy surrounding the President’s visit is the cost of the trip.
With the staff, special forces, local police presence and equipment, the President’s visit adds up annually to at least a $4 million vacation courtesy of the Hawaii and federal taxpayers.
While the President and his friends pay for their own rental homes, taxpayers pick up the cost of security and waterfront housing for the Secret Service, Navy Seals and Coast Guard as well as staff accommodations at a plush beachfront Waikiki hotel.
TRAVEL: $3,629,622
The biggest expense is President Barack Obama’s round trip flight to Hawaii via Air Force One.
A Congressional Research Service report released in May 2012 said the plane typically used by the President, a Boeing 747, costs $179,750 per hour to operate. The U.S. Air Force has listed the cost of travel as high as $181,757 per flight hour.
Travel time for Air Force One direct from Washington D.C. to Hawaii is about 9 hours or as high as $1,635,813 each way for a total of $3,271,622 for the round trip to Hawaii and back.
The cost for USAF C-17 cargo aircraft that transports the Presidential limos, helicopters and other support equipment to Hawaii has never been disclosed in the years the President has traveled to Hawaii. However, the flight time between Andrews Air Force Base and Hawaii is at about 21.5 hours roundtrip, with estimated operating cost of $12,000 per hour. (Source: GAO report, updated by C-17 crew member). The United States Marine Corps provides a presidential helicopter, along with pilots and support crews for the test flights, which travel on another C-17 flight. That is $258,000, not including costs for the 4 to 6 member crew’s per diem and hotel.
The rentals are fronted by the ocean and backed by a canal. So, the taxpayers must cover the costs for housing U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Coast Guard and Navy Seals in beach front and canal front homes around where the President stays.
Last year, that added up to about $200 per bedroom per day, or $21,600 per average home for a nearly three week period, with special forces renting at least 7 homes. Security arrives ahead of the President costing taxpayers about $176,400 for the length of the visit.
The President’s staff and White House Press Corps typically stay at one of Hawaii’s oldest and most elegant hotels, the Moana Surfrider. Besides its stunningly beautiful view of Waikiki, and its traditional Hawaiian architecture and decor, it is one of the most pricey hotels in the state and government rates are not available during the holiday season. Rooms start at around $270 but can cost as much as $370 a night for an ocean view before Christmas, and climb much higher around the new year.
A conservative estimate with rooms at $270 (excluding a 9.25 percent Transient Accommodation Tax and a 4.712 percent General Excise Tax on each bill, meals, internet charges and other charges) means the taxpayers are covering more than $129,600 in hotel bills for some two dozen staff.
LOCAL TAXPAYER COSTS: $260,000
Local police are paid over time for the President’s visit, which has historically cost Oahu taxpayers $250,000.
The city ambulance the accompanies the President 24 hours a day through his entire visit is about $10,000 to city taxpayers.
UNKNOWN COSTS
There are several costs the White House annually refuses to release, citing security.
- For example, the President’s security usually rents an entire floor of an office building in Kailua on the canal during the president’s stay.
- There are security upgrades and additional phone lines to several private homes where Obama and friends are staying. That includes bullet proof glass installed, home security systems disabled, new security measures put into place and additional phone lines added.
- There is the cost for car rentals and fuel for White House staff staying at a Waikiki Hotel.
- And there are additional travel costs Secret Service and White House staff traveling ahead of the President.
The total cost (based on what is known) for a 20-day round trip vacation to Hawaii for the President and his family and staff and security is more than $4 million.
Hawaii Reporter annually has requested details on the cost of the President’s trip, but the White House will not release any figures, citing security concerns. A spokesperson has maintained the costs are “in line” with other presidential vacations.
Hawaii Reporter has sought to determine the cost of vacations for the current president and last two presidents but the Government Accountability Office referred Hawaii Reporter back to the White House spokesperson.
I think Obama, the communist, needs to give up his 4 million dollar holiday plans and give that money to the poor. Being the compassionate and caring person that Obama supposedly is. This guy is all talk no action.
We got 4 more years of this lavish extravagant idiot's spending. BTW.. I would think $4 million dollars would help that lady obama gave a hug to, the Hurrican sandy Victim, and he promised to help her and never did. this would help a lot of Sandy victims??? You guys voted for him, where is your savior now? On the white house website should just be a piece of luggage, with all the stamps to his vacation spots on it for the next 4 years
These pathetic black racist a@@holes make me puke. And they just smash it right into the faces of every man and woman that has been laid off because of this total fool's policies. How stupid can you ignorant white people be in this country be. How pathetically stupid? Mu God it's incomprehensible.
Black Racist…I do not think so. Obama could have been a good POTUS like Kennedy….no..he is a worthless POS that is totally bent on destroying the US…IT IS NOT HIS COLOR YOU BLACK AH'S….IT IS HIS CHARACTER. THIS COUNTRY WILL BE IN SHAMBLES AND YOU WON'T GET A DIME OF YOUR "RETROBUTION" THAT YOU THINK WE OWE YOU. WE OWE YOU NOTHING–NADA. THIS MAN IS A FAILURE.
During Bush’s two terms, the cost of operating Air Force One ranged from $56,800 to $68,000 an hour. Bush used Air Force One 77 times to go to his ranch in Crawford, TX. Using the low end cost of $56,800, Media Matters calculated that each trip to Crawford cost taxpayers $259,687 each time, and $20 million total for Bush’s ranch flights.
If cost of the flight was the only expense involved to taxpayers Bush’s vacations would still seem rather economical, but there is more, much more. Unlike the Obama’s $4 million Christmas vacation price tag, which includes the cost of everything from transportation to accommodations for the First Family, the White House staff, and the White House press corps, Bush’s numbers only include the cost of flying the president to Crawford. The cost of transporting and accommodating staff, media, friends and family is not included in Bush’s vacation numbers.
Everyone blamed BUSH for all the taxpayers problems. It's pretty funny BUSH hasn't been in office for going on 12 years now. Clinton was there before that, now blame whoever you want . But i don't think BUSH can be your whipping boy anymore.
Sometimes it becomes necessary to water the Tree of Liberty with the blood of tyrants and patriots.I believe that NOW is such a time.Let's do this and get it over with so our children and grandchildren will have a country they can be proud of.Not a communist stronghold that will enslave them all.LOCK & LOAD!!!
@Patrick…I am with you, please read "Read Truth". These people are nuts!
It's pretty simple. You are all anti-Obama. So who do you support. Bush? Reagan? The people who crashed and burned the economy before Obama even took the oath? Oh, right. Let's not talk about any of that.
Well, here's some fact for you. Bush Spent 5 Times More On Flights To Texas Than Obama‘s ENTIRE Christmas Vacation Costs. Educate yourself. READ:
https://www.politicususa.com/cost-obama-christmas-…
It's pretty simple. You are all anti-Obama. So who do you support. Bush? Reagan? The people who crashed and burned the economy before Obama even took the oath? Oh, right. Let's not talk about any of that.
Well, here's some fact for you. Bush Spent 5 Times More On Flights To Texas Than Obama‘s ENTIRE Christmas Vacation Costs. Educate yourself. READ:
https://www.politicususa.com/cost-obama-christmas-…
It's pretty simple. You are all anti-Obama. So who do you support. Bush? Reagan? The people who crashed and burned the economy before Obama even took the oath? Oh, right. Let's not talk about any of that.
Bush Spent 5 Times More On Flights To Texas Than Obama‘s Christmas Vacation Costs
https://www.politicususa.com/cost-obama-christmas-…
@Read Truth….you must be on dope….where do you get your facts. Michelle spent 10 million on vacations…do not try to even say that Bush or his First Lady did that. You are what is wrong with the country. Uninformed, cluleless. Do you still live with your parents…I thought so. No wonder our country has gone to the dogs in the last 4 years. Are you an Occupier? Thought so…well you are wasting space here..try Hawaii in December, and stay there. Obama has lived like royalty since the get go..man you are a dope.
Nope – not on dope. Don't live with my parents. Not an occupy-er. Educated with a Masters and my husband has a Doctorate. Do you have a college degree? Probably not.. We are raising a family and own a single family home. Contributing members of society, thank you very much. Are you on welfare? Most likely. Or at least people you know. Most people, like myself, don't get on board with rants like the one posted on this website. Every now and again, against my own better judgement, I interject with FACTS and people like yourself can't relate. It's ok. We are all very lucky that Romney did not win this election and you, and your racist friends, will all be eating your words. I'm not going to waste anymore time on you, or this website, b/c you grew up with this type of hatred in your heart. Something that I, nor people like myself, can you help you with. Face reality. The election is over and the people have spoken. Cheers!
Even the most radical obamatons will regret what they have done before the next four years are over.
We had a chance to vote this guy out…and sadly a majority of this country is now a bunch of moochers so he's right back at doing what he does best – vacationing and tearing this country apart. Great job America! "Elections have consequences"…what he didn't tell you was that YOU'RE the one who's going to feel those consequences.
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