BY MALIA ZIMMERMAN – KAILUA, OAHU – The U.S. Secret Service has arrived, street barricades are in place, and the U.S. Coast Guard has stationed itself in the waters surrounding Kailua, Oahu.
That is a sure sign President Barack Obama’s security team is preparing for the first family to arrive in the small beachside community as early as Friday night for what is expected to be a 17-day vacation.
The President and his family are traveling separately to Hawaii because he wants resolve the payroll tax cut issue before leaving Washington – and his wife does not want to wait.
But the advanced trip and the cost that comes with it – as much as $100,000 (flight and security) – adds to an already expensive vacation for the taxpayers.
Hawaii Reporter research shows the total cost for the President’s visit for taxpayers far exceeded $1.5 million in 2010 – but is even more costly this year because he extended his vacation by three days and the cost for Air Force One travel has jumped since last assessed in 2000. In addition, Hawaii Reporter was able to obtain more specifics about the executive expenditures.
TRAVEL: $3,629,622
The biggest expense is President Barack Obama’s round trip flight to Hawaii via Air Force One, a cost the GAO office estimated at $1 million in the year 2000. Contacted today, the GAO confirmed there is no report the independent office affiliated with Congress has prepared since 2000 to operate Air Force One and Air Force Two.
However, the U.S. Air Force provides the most current numbers of $181,757 per flight hour. Travel time for Air Force One direct from Washington D.C. to Hawaii is about 9 hours or $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 was not made available. 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.
Mrs. Obama’s early flight to Hawaii costs about $63,000 (White House Dossier), but add security and personnel for a total of about $100,000.
HOUSING: $151,200
The President and his family pay for their own beachfront rental (they are not staying in the Winter White House this year but rather a house on the same street further to the ocean point).
The Kailua 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 in Kailua.
That costs about $1,200 a day ($200 allocated per bedroom per day). Since security arrives one day early, homes are rented for 18 days.
That is about $21,600 per home for approximately 7 houses rented at a total cost of $151,200 for security to stay nearby.
HOTEL: $72,216
The President’s staff and White House Press Corps stay at one of Hawaii’s oldest and most elegant hotels, the Moana Surfrider. Hawaii Reporter confirmed they are again staying there this year. Besides its stunningly beautiful view of Waikiki, and its traditional architecture, it is one of the most pricey hotels in the state.
Government rates are $177 per night, but that only is available during certain times a year.
Rooms typically start at $250 but can cost on average as much as $450 a night, and are even higher during the holidays. Hotel spokeswoman Marsha Weinert said she could “neither confirm nor deny” the president’s staff is staying there.
A conservative estimate with rooms at the government rate of $177 per day (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 $72,216 in hotel bills for an estimated 24 staff.
LOCAL TAXPAYER COSTS: $260,000
Local police over time for the president’s visit has historically cost Oahu taxpayers $250,000 but may be more expensive this year with the extended vacation.
The city ambulance the accompanies the president 24 hours a day through his entire visit is $10,000, according to city spokeswoman Louise Kim McCoy.
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 Moana 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 17-day round trip vacation to Hawaii for the President and his family and staff and security is an estimated $4,113,038.
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 was able to provide those costs and referred Hawaii Reporter back to the White House spokesperson.
See related story and update: First Family Arrives in Kailua
Ugh….is that another great story about how Obama is spending $250 million/day on a trip to India???
I see no facts or sources again. I eagerly await the retraction and admission of obtaining this information from Faux News
damn you are dumb!!!!! 4 mill. seems about right for a trip with security to Hawaii. how much do you think it cost in fuel to fly a plane? how much to think it costs to have hired protection? how much do you think it costs to have hotels and pay for food? where do you think the president is getting the money? I know you libs. like to live in fantasy land, but why don't you try coming down to earth for a bit. Didn't Obama state that all Americans would have to suffer a little to overcome these hard times? Doesn't look like he is practicing what he is preaching to me, but then again I see reality. use your brain. I know it is hard for you to do your so use to the government doing the thinking for you. you do realize that he will be getting over 400,000 dollars a year along with bush and Clinton. then there is the famous accuse of inflation. why do you think it is so important for a president to be getting that much money?
Maybe we should break down every presidents expenditures for eh very trip and compare and include inflation or do we only do this on Obama?
I guess it really wouldn't matter if we were on the verge of financial ruin! The fact that they have all done things like this is why we are where we are today, is that WE THE PEOPLE'S FAULT? I would be charged with embezzlement if I did this! So my question to you is at a time when he is telling us to tighten our belts and make wise choices, which are both good pieces of advice by the way, so is he following his own advise?
This man and his wife could care less about the expense as long as they have four more LONG years of fun and travel. Makes me sick.
Ditto!
Every president seems to enjoy living like royalty at the taxpayers' expense. That's why these worthless politicians run for that office.
The Obama family, pre presidential election, was known for being very poor with financial management. Barack, as stated by Michelle, often had all credit cards maxed, and she even stated they would dodge collecting calls. It's no shock that the Obama family would still spend lavishly when the expense cap is removed.
Yes Jon, b.o. has poor self control and so this trip is another example, but he's a self made millionaire, did you read the report at; https://finance.yahoo.com/news/how-barack-obama-ma… And in 2011 Mitt Romney gave over $4 million to charity, almost 19% of his income…. Just for comparison purposes, Obama gave 1% and Joe Biden gave $300 or .0013%"? Last, the local pro obama's here forget that Chicago & Illinois will reap the most benefits with B.O.'s win…presidential library, govt. contracts, security w/secret service whereever he goes after 2016….wonder how many job openings will be created? "
Yes, He made 1.9 Million in advance for selling popularity, but this is the same guy who has to live "luxuriously" on his "middle wage" salary pre Presidency. I know, from a government standpoint, 250,000 a year is middle class, but from my standpoint and the rest of the middle class, making, what i guess would be called low class wages of 150,000 or less, 250,000 seems like something hard to just blow as easily as he did. A Lawyer, senator, and now president and commander and chief, cannot go a year without overspending. He couldn't at 250,000, he couldn't at 10 trillion, and clearly he still can't avoid over spending. (Just a disclaimer, I am not talking about Romney for anyone ready to rip my head off, I am referring to strictly Obama, and the disgust toward any person who can't manage their paycheck, and is expected to manage the paychecks of 300 Million people) Its absurd, its disgusting. When your biggest priority as a voter is the economy, and your future (kids included) Any man who mismanages like Obama does, should not be trusted.
These numbers are crazy. Why not use this money to help the people who are suffering in this country (i.e. hurricane Sandy victims) rather then spend it on a vacation? I mean everyone is entitled to a vacation but why not go somewhere cheaper?
he is from hawaii. hes going home for the holidays. all the other presidents did the same thing… obama just happens to be from hawaii.
BULL S%$& HIS HOME IS IN CHICAGO
YOU ARE SOOOO MISINFORMED. HE LIVED THERE FOR A FEW YEARS . HIS HOME IS IN CHICAGO. HE SHOULD GO TO CAMP DAVID OR WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE WHITE HOUSE? I'M STAYING HOME. WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
So why doesn't he simply return to family in Indonesia on our tax dollars! What's wrong with vacationing at Camp David like so many others?
Speak up to help cancel his 2012 trip. https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/cancel-…
[…] the fiscal cliff crisis that will create extra costs for tax payers. Malia Zimmerman of the Hawaii Reporter estimates the biggest expense will be Obama’s round trip journey on Air Force One, along with the cost […]
Let me be straight up with you Mr. Obama. Kailua is where Kollin Kealii Elderts is hometown. He was murdered in cold blood by your employee from the state department. No justice nor apology has been delivered to his family. His mother committed suicide after the murder. And how dare you spend your luxurious vacation in Kailua! Shame on you Mr. President!
[…] Here’s a package showing Santa’s elves hard at work keeping evil cyberborgs from winning an Internet power game: Web users compete with a character called “The Prez” who threatens to drop a hot lump of coal on Internet dwellers. “The Prez” won the last round, passed “go” and collected yet another vacation, a three-week Hawaiian holiday, a $4 million “gift” from American taxpayers. […]
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