Residents Alerted to Obamas’ Hawaiian Holiday Plans

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Malia Zimmerman
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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.

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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.

Kailua Beach

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.

Moana Surfrider Resort

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.

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806 COMMENTS

  2. he wont be groped getting on his plane either like everyone else will be at the airport this weekend…

  4. […] Residents Alerted To Obama’s Hawaiian Holiday Plans  “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.”  Oh.  Joy. […]

  7. Obama wins again! Here we are talking about Hawaii, what happened to Lybia and four dead Americans? How about the drone that went down in Iran? How about a nuclear Iran? What about Israel, do we have their back? Sounds like a community organizer—–go right ahead—–don't worry,I have your back. Then there was a drone of ours shot at by the Iranians. It took two weeks for the F.B.I. to get to Bengazi? When the murders were going on in Bengazi our B. Hussein O. was headed to Las Vegas. Do you all think that words like ——–a fiscial cliff——might require another—–don't worry —I have your back —-B.Hussein O. Organizer in Charge.

  8. The really stupid thing about the leftist generated outrage about Bush so called vacations to his ranch, is that they weren't vacations. The ranch was set up with everything needed to use it as a "White House SW". He worked from early in the morning on Presidential business at his ranch. Dignitaries were even brought there to carry on international business. It was a better place to meet with foreign dignitaries than around all of the Washington pressure and hoopla. Where would an honest, down to earth meeting between two heads of States likely take place, in Washington D.C., or at a down home Texas ranch? Where could a President think more clearly, in D.C., or at a Texas ranch where the air was fresh and he could clear his head by doing a little honest man's ranch type work? That is why he liked it in Texas, not because he didn't work hard there, but because it was away from Washington D.C. with all of it's affected mind and heart numbing politicking. Many Presidents have had a place to go to that they worked at doing the people's business, because they wanted to be away from D.C., feeling that they could function as President better, being stationed at least part of the time, somewhere else. So lefties need to get over it, because Bush worked for us while he stayed at his rather humble and homey styled ranch.

      • SO, Effin, B.O. REALLY working now on the east coast Martha's Vineyard today,
        Hawaii, Kailua in January, PLUS Michelle's talk show appearances, kids field trips,
        AND B.O.'s campaign to push Obamacare coming soon to your state!
        So per Times magazine, a "Warrior for the middle class" ??????????

  10. Is anybody really surprised by this ?
    ANOTHER $4 million for a 20 DAY VACATION in Hawaii …. who goes on vacation for 20 days ?
    AND the country is about to go 'off the cliff' …. know this :: Obama does not care one iota for any of you :: all he cares about is Barack Hussein Obama and his plan for the destruction of this country. No wonder his favorite show is 'Homeland' …. be afraid :: very afraid !

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