Obama on Christmas Eve
Got delayed as President Obama rolled through the Windward side on Christmas Eve.
Last aloha to President Obama’s annual visits to Hawaii.
obama
When Else Do You Barack and Chill?
Other than being stuck in traffic as the First Family’s motorcade makes its way to an Air Force One departure, when are the other times you Barack and chill? It’s got to be all those times Hawaii residents experience power outages, inexplicably when POTUS is in the islands. This started back in December 2008 when Mr. Obama’s visit coincided with a 12-hour, island-wide outage, and yes, we used candles from Pay ‘n Save.
In 2010, the power outage precipitated POTUS’ arrival as Ala Moana went dark leading up to Christmas. This untimely exit of electricity brought on the first sentiments of Barack and Chill with this sign offering irate shoppers apologetic “Mahalo’z.”
According to my blog posts, I did not record a power outage for the next five years although I don’t believe it. In any case, the next Barack and chill moment came in 2015 as stormy weather blacked out Hawaii.
Then almost one year later as we left 2015 and entered 2016, there was Hawaii’s (or at least Kailua’s) Barack and chill moment. With gusty winds clearing the skies, total darkness unveiled our starry skies.
During this most recent outage, as I pondered the Pulpconnection conspiracy theories about the timing of these outages, I sat back, realized, and defined “Barack and chill.” Perhaps, these nighttime outages could have led to Netflix and chill opportunities, especially if you queue up Barack Obama’s “Night” summer playlist on Spotify. But for me, this Barack and chill moment meant doing dishes by flashlight.
“Barack and Chill” Defined
I’m defining “Barack and Chill” as:
What Hawaii residents have to patiently do while awaiting delays caused by President Barack Obama’s annual holiday stay.
If you don’t Barack and chill, you wouldn’t handle delays like this as the freeways are shutdown for the Presidential motorcade making its way to Hickam for their departure.
#HITraffic on H1 from Aiea to Halawa is extra congested due to the First Family's departur… https://t.co/Pw7ENLVsti pic.twitter.com/oel0XNzapM
— GoAkamai (@goakamai) January 3, 2016
Obama Holiday Stay Means Another Power Outage
It’s been some years, but whenever POTUS visits Hawaii during the holidays, there’s a very good chance that a power outage will ensue. That tradition continues tonight on the eve and first day of 2016 with power going out around 11pm and coming back around 5am.
Lots of stars out on a clear night (see the little white specks).
The moon was shining bright as well.
My Be Like Barack Mini-vacation
Remember back in 2008 when Barack Obama vacationed in Hawaii? Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I had a “Be Like Barack Vacation” on a very miniscule scale. The day started early, picking up passengers, but we forwent the speeches due to the continued drowsiness of turkey’s tryptophan. Then our two-car caravan headed north to Laniakea Beach to see turtles.
Meals weren’t from the cuisine of Alan Wong’s but from the homestyle goodness of Paalaa Kai Bakery. I’d highly recommend the Snow Puffy.
Overpriced movies aren’t just at Ward, they’re everywhere though Wreck It Ralph was a great flick so I didn’t necessarily mind forking out $30. Hey, wait, what? Large bags of popcorn get free refills?!
There was no physical activity like working out, bodysurfing, shooting hoops, or golfing, but that didn’t stop us from getting a shave ice fix. Matsumoto’s was packed so next-door Aoki’s it was. The Sour Pucker was mine.
During our mini-vacation, there were no swanky dinners for us, but I thought the signage on the McDonalds was swankily cool.
So there’s my “Be Like Barack” eight-day vacation crammed into one weekend.
All Clear on the H1
As President Barack Obama got ready to leave the islands, the H1 freeway was shutdown for the Presidential motorcade. I’ve never seen the freeway that empty ever! There was some traffic headed towards Pearl City, but absolutely no traffic head towards Hickam.
Happy Birthday President Obama
Today is President Barack Obama’s 50th birthday. So from his 50th state home, here’s a little retro remembrance from days before.
If you happen to have this Ballin’ with Barack shirt, I think you have a collector’s item since this Pearlridge store has since closed. And is that Jay-Z and Kanye West rocking the Buff ‘n Blue?
Social Media, the POTUS, and Thanks
The end of 2010 brought up a totally unexpected social media opportunity – to watch the arrival of Air Force One and its primary passenger, President Barack Obama. President Obama and the First Family have been making it their Holiday tradition to vacation in Hawaii, but never would I have thought that I would be there as Air Force One touched down.
I’ve been fortunate to attend several exciting social media adventures with the DoD throughout 2010, but this event has to rate highly. An out-of-the-blue email invitation, a submission for a press pass, and I was approved to attend!
So even though Air Force One was scheduled for a late night arrival, hours-long waiting and several security checks weren’t a deterrent. And it was over quickly. After Air Force One taxied at Hickam, President Obama, Senator Akaka, and Representative Hirono deplaned and went their own ways.
But this social media-borne opportunity was not over. At the end of the First Family’s 12-day Hawaiian stay, I was invited to the departure of Air Force One. Along with other social media enthusiasts and traditional media, we watched as Bo, Sasha, Malia, Michelle, and Barack Obama boarded Air Force One for Washington DC.
What a way to end 2010 and welcome in 2011!
Thanks to the Air Force, PACAF, and PACOM for this unique opportunity and special thanks to Scott Morifuji for giving us newbies a clue.
The First Family Finishes Their Hawaiian Holidays
President Obama, the First Lady, and their children concluded their holiday vacation in Hawaii flying back to Washington DC in Air Force One.
I’ll post more pictures later on Tuesday. I’m tired and most of my pics were bad. This one is real bad.
This is probably one of the better pics unassisted by a flash from the press photographers.
