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.
Brent c. you would have better served your readers by comparing Obama's vacation frequency to that of the presidents that preceded him
Why do you blame G.W. Bush for every problem this country has??? My husband and oldest son lost their jobs the day after the first election of Obama. The Banks pulled their financing of the projects, without financing the contractors can't build. So the employees get laid off. The banking system pulled all support because the didn't know if they would be able to be paid for the loans. This is not a joke. The construction industry is in shambles because Obama and the rest of the Democratic Party doesn't care if the construction workers who are not union have jobs or not. I am a old fashion southern democrat. I hope you know the difference in what we have today! After 3 yrs it is all Obama's not Bush's problems am sure you will not understand this.
[…] Read more at Residents Alerted to Obamas’ Hawaiian Holiday Plans | Hawaii Reporter. […]
This is sick!! How many other leeches are they taking with them at our expense. Talk about taking advantage of legitimate WELFARE BENEFITS.
Keep hating and showing your ignorance people. It's working out great for you so far.
Glad he won hope he spends more just keep my Medicare and soc sec coming
I don't know, or really care, how much other presidents spent on vacations!!! This is appalling!! Who, (key words here) in good conscience, gets on a jet plane knowing it costs American taxpayers some $180,000/hr to operate?!?! Stunning.
I have a great idea! How about we put our money where our ballot is? It works like this:
If you vote for the nanny state "gimme free stuff" liberal agenda, you are identified as a "ward of the nation" (like a ward of the state). Your entire paycheck (if you earn one) is direct deposited to the government and you live off the awesome freebies you voted for and whatever change they give back to you in the form of your "allowance" (you know, what "they" – your parent, so to speak, think you DESERVE to have).
If you vote conservative, you are identified as an "emancipated individual" as you no longer rely on the government for care and you keep your paycheck. You are taxed at a flat rate of 15% on your earnings and 5% on what you purchase and that is it. With your income you might put some money in the bank, pay your bills, fix your house and your car, feed your family, yadda yadda yadda… maybe having enough to go on vacation once or twice a year or put your children through college.
This way we would avoid another bloody civil war and all continue to live in the same communities… until the liberals run out of money (which they inevitably will – probably within about 8 months of commencing this program). At which point, the more inventive liberals will create rafts out of the empty dreaded evil Walmart water bottles and float away to their true Utopias… Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. This will leave America wide open for its rebirth as a new nation once more!
What say you?
disgusting!!! i can't believe the waste and horrid example!!
I was born and raised in Hawaii. I can't go back home because it is horribly expensive. The guy now has a second run and he is milking it. Gang, we were set up by the people who put him back in. Remember he is a Polititian (sp?) and is going to leave a legacy of his great contribution to the United States and the World. Not! As a President, Obama is not and will never be the President as JfK was during the Cuban Crisis. My opinion.
What do you expect from "barry the liar" ? He has lived off the public dole all of his life and the "Gimme Generation" just handed him the keys to the bank. As I have told my liberal friends "Just wait until the bill comes due". Bend over 53% you elected him and now its time to pay the bill.
[…] Hands off my Cheetos! – VP Biden at Costco. At least he kept his shirt on. – Let them eat cake. Or poi. Or something. – Syria shuts down the internet. Not good. – US birth rate falls to a record low. – […]
Comments are closed.