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
He and his family should book a one way flight back to Africa and go mine some diamonds, so that then he can pay for his vacation with his own hard earned money, not on tax payers dollars.
This extravagant selfish family needs to pack their Louis Vuittons early… 2012 will be here before you know it!
Moochelle “couldn’t wait”, and had to leave earlier than Barry? She just keeps on finding ways to stick it to the taxpayer, every chance she gets, doesn’t she? I’m so sick of the both of them, and their antics.
They took the dog with them. Since Barry (or whatever his real name is) is Muslim and follows Islam, he, being male, is not allowed to travel with a ‘dog’ (Not Michelle! I mean the family pet!)
So they must travel separately from Barry the unvetted.
I really don’t have a problem with the POTUS spending whatever on vacations…America is a First Class World Leader (although obama keeps trying to drive us down) and the President ought to travel First Class whenever and wherever he goes
I heard she jumped into the Pacific and the water level increased by 15ft
He has taken that to a very very new level. It is not an issue if it is on official business but most of his trips have just been gross abuse of that.
You are a fool John in Longmont. This imposter has been on vacation more than he has been in the White House!
I haven’t had a vacation in two years! My taxes have increased! Food prices have sky rocketted! Gas prices have sky rocketted. My health care costs are through the roof from Obama’s ‘Affordable Health Care’ bill! And you think he should spend ‘whatever’ of our tax dollars on more vacations as if he is a King.
C’mere John! I want to punch your face!!
I like the libturd that “He is going back to his homestate of Hawaii” HAHAHAHAHAHA
His home “state” is a country and it is kenya, kenya stick it to the US Taxpayer, why yes he KEN!
I hope everyone that will vote can see through this “Charade” what a fake POS he and his RACIST “APE” of a wife. Meanwhile we have massive unemployment, unemployment compensation running out for most people, no increase in social security benefits for those on it for 3 years now, medicare cutbacks, massive home foreclosures and this usurper is spending money like this on his worhless self and his selfish wife. WHAT A CROCK OF CRAP, and the libturds have their noses so far up his a$$ and think he is a god. Time for IMPEACHMENT, PROSECUTION FOR PERJURY, GRAND TREASON AND A SENTENCE THE SAME AS JULIUS AND ETHEL ROSENBERG FACED FOR THE CRIMES THEY COMMITTED. The people that backed him and put him there need to face the same!!
[…] With More Vacation Days and Separate Travel, Price of Obama’s Annual Hawaiian Holiday Rises […]
In Obama’a world, we share sacrifice, while he and the First Lady take separate jets, and spend more than the most outrageous tyrants at any time in history. These folks have no idea of how abusive they are in spending other peoples’ money. They have no right to a $4 milliion + vacation when they have caused the greatest number of Americans to slide into poverty. Obama lines the pockets of his friends, billionairs, big lablor unions, and Goldman Sachs while Main Street, USA is suffering.
Does anyone realize the is a President who has never celebrated Christmas at the White House. They have traveled to Hawaii every year he has been in office. There have been several presidents in the past,both Democrat and Republican, who have spent time right at the White House with their families at the White House with pictures to prove it. Why is there this compulsion to leave the premise every year.
He is Muslim following Islam. And, he did celebrate Ramadan in ‘our’ white house.
He isn’t allowed to celebrate another belief’s holidays.
[…] on this report from Hawaii Reporter: The President and his family are traveling separately to Hawaii because he wants resolve the […]
[…] how badly does President Obama want to get out of town and join his family in Hawaii? At yesterday’s White House press briefing, Jay Carney seemed to be backing off any veto threat […]
[…] on this report from Hawaii Reporter: The President and his family are traveling separately to Hawaii because he wants resolve the […]
Comments are closed.