Published: Thursday, August 14, 2008
Obama in Hawaii: graveside visit, shave ice and golf
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Alex Brandon / Associated Press
Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., body surfs today at Sandy Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii.
KAILUA, Hawaii -- Barack Obama made the most of his Hawaii vacation Wednesday, taking in a lingering round of golf with friends, visiting his grandfather's grave with family at a war cemetery and slurping an icy island dessert with neighborhood kids.
Obama crammed in as many sights as he could on the island where he was born, viewing Oahu's soaring green mountains and visiting scenic overlooks in one of the last days before the crunch of the campaign kicks into full gear with the Democratic National Convention less than two weeks away.
He spent a leisurely seven hours golfing at Luana Hills Country Club, a difficult course in the shadow of Oahu's eastern peaks. He clasped the hands of his daughters, Malia and Sasha, as they paid respects to his grandfather, Stanley Dunham, who fought in World War II and is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in the crater of an extinct volcano.
He dropped by the windy Pali Lookout to view the other side of the island from where he grew up. He ate shave ice, an island treat of flavored ice.
Obama's choice of shave ice was covered with lime, guava and cherry flavors, without any extras like ice cream or azuki beans.
"As a purist, you don't do the beans. You don't do the ice cream. Just the shave ice," Obama said as he ate with about a dozen children outside Island Snow Hawaii.
Absent from his postcard-perfect day were many of the trappings of the campaign.
Although he shook a few hands with fans, this was a day for relaxation with family and friends, despite the entourage of Secret Service and media, always on the sidelines.
"Nice to see you guys," Obama told a cheering crowd that gathered around him at the shave ice shop. "Everybody seems pretty happy with their shave ice."
He didn't say how he scored over the 18 holes of golf. If the time it took to finish was any indication, his score might not have been that good.
Like a tourist eager not to miss a thing, Obama has kept a busy schedule for a vacation.
Since he arrived on Friday, the Democratic presidential contender had a picnic with his family at a public beach park, shot some hoops with old friends at his Honolulu high school, took in the new Batman movie at a local multiplex, and strolled the sand outside his 10-bedroom beachfront rental in the Kailua area of Oahu.
An unidentified campaign aide told KITV Obama is using his own money, not campaign funds, to rent the house. The aide wouldn't say how much he paid for the week.
Honolulu city spokesman Bill Brennan told the TV station Obama's campaign had contacted city officials before renting the house to confirm it was a legal arrangement. The upscale neighborhood has been at the center of a dispute over owners who rent luxury homes illegally for short terms without proper permits.
As for campaigning, Obama put together a rally at a beach park immediately after his plane landed, and he raised $1.3 million at a private fundraiser Tuesday night.
He's set to leave Hawaii for a return to the campaign on Friday.
Obama crammed in as many sights as he could on the island where he was born, viewing Oahu's soaring green mountains and visiting scenic overlooks in one of the last days before the crunch of the campaign kicks into full gear with the Democratic National Convention less than two weeks away.
He spent a leisurely seven hours golfing at Luana Hills Country Club, a difficult course in the shadow of Oahu's eastern peaks. He clasped the hands of his daughters, Malia and Sasha, as they paid respects to his grandfather, Stanley Dunham, who fought in World War II and is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in the crater of an extinct volcano.
He dropped by the windy Pali Lookout to view the other side of the island from where he grew up. He ate shave ice, an island treat of flavored ice.
Obama's choice of shave ice was covered with lime, guava and cherry flavors, without any extras like ice cream or azuki beans.
"As a purist, you don't do the beans. You don't do the ice cream. Just the shave ice," Obama said as he ate with about a dozen children outside Island Snow Hawaii.
Absent from his postcard-perfect day were many of the trappings of the campaign.
Although he shook a few hands with fans, this was a day for relaxation with family and friends, despite the entourage of Secret Service and media, always on the sidelines.
"Nice to see you guys," Obama told a cheering crowd that gathered around him at the shave ice shop. "Everybody seems pretty happy with their shave ice."
He didn't say how he scored over the 18 holes of golf. If the time it took to finish was any indication, his score might not have been that good.
Like a tourist eager not to miss a thing, Obama has kept a busy schedule for a vacation.
Since he arrived on Friday, the Democratic presidential contender had a picnic with his family at a public beach park, shot some hoops with old friends at his Honolulu high school, took in the new Batman movie at a local multiplex, and strolled the sand outside his 10-bedroom beachfront rental in the Kailua area of Oahu.
An unidentified campaign aide told KITV Obama is using his own money, not campaign funds, to rent the house. The aide wouldn't say how much he paid for the week.
Honolulu city spokesman Bill Brennan told the TV station Obama's campaign had contacted city officials before renting the house to confirm it was a legal arrangement. The upscale neighborhood has been at the center of a dispute over owners who rent luxury homes illegally for short terms without proper permits.
As for campaigning, Obama put together a rally at a beach park immediately after his plane landed, and he raised $1.3 million at a private fundraiser Tuesday night.
He's set to leave Hawaii for a return to the campaign on Friday.
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