© AP
First Family arrives in Honolulu.
After closing his final news conference of the year with a
"Mele Kalikimaka," President Obama and his family left behind chilly temperatures in the nation's capital for their annual Christmas vacation in the islands.
Obama and his family landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam about 11 p.m., and were met by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, (D-Hawaii), Gov. David Ige, Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Adm. Harry Harris, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander. After the president greeted the dignitaries, the family jetted off to their rented Kailua mansion by motorcade.
The U.S. Coast Guard has established a temporary security zone in Kailua Bay starting Friday at 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Jan. 2. The maritime security zone starts from Kapoho Point and extends westward to the shoreline near Kailuana Loop. The zone also includes the adjacent channel beginning at Kapoho Point to the North Kalaheo Avenue Road bridge. An orange marker will indicate the perimeter of the security zone.
This will be the Obamas' final trip to Hawaii as the First Family as the president's second term draws to a close.
It will be punctuated by
a historic visit to the USS Arizona Memorial on Dec. 27 with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who will become the first Japanese leader to visit the site. Both will pay tribute to the lives lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor 75 years ago.
During last year's vacation, Obama spent much of his time working out at the gym, playing rounds of golf, going on hikes and dining at high-end restaurants, like Alan Wong's and MW Restaurant.
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