President goes golfing after a morning hike and workout
2011 December 26 - Obama Hike - President Barack Obama pets Kai, a 2-year-old female mixed-breed dog, as heheads up the Lanikai pillbox trail Monday 12-26-2011. Kai and owner Vicky Crowder, 37, of Kaneohe, were hiking down near the end of their hike when they encountered the president. The trail is formally known as the KaiwaRidge Trail. Photo by Vicky Crowder
Protesters hold up signs as President Barack Obama's motorcade makes its way into the neighborhood where his rental holiday vacation home is located, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, in Kailua, Hawaii . (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
President Barack Obama is seen through a vehicle window as he passes by in his motorcade, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, in Kailua, Hawaii. The first family is in Hawaii for the holidays. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama rides in his motorcade through the neighborhood near his rental holiday vacation home in Kailua, Hawaii, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. President Obama was traveling to go hiking nearby with family and friends. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
President Barack Obama reacts after a practice putt today at the Kaneohe Klipper golf course on Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
People at the Kaneohe Klipper golf course on Marine Corps Base Hawaii got a chance to see President Barack Obama when he returned to the course to play a round with friends this afternoon.
President Barack Obama had a busy day of vacation with a workout and short hike with his family, followed by a golf outing with friends in the afternoon.
This morning, the president and his family took advantage of a warm and sunny day after Christmas to take a short hike near their rented vacation home in Hawaii.
“He said, ‘Good morning,’ and asked what my dog’s name was and greeted me happy holidays,” said Crowder, a nurse practitioner at the Queen’s Medical Center.
“After I got back my brother asked if I got a photo of myself and the president. I said, ‘No, I opted to look into the eye of the most powerful man in the U.S., I shook his hand and said Merry Christmas.’ I thought that was more than enough.”
Crowder did, however, snap a photo of Obama petting Kai, a 2-year-old mixed breed female adopted from the Kauai Humane Society.
The White House says the president, his wife and daughters were joined on the hike by a few friends.
After returning to their Kailua vacation home at about 11:15 a.m., the presidential motorcade returned to golf course at the Marine base at Kaneohe where the president and friends hit the links at about 11:45 a.m. under sunny skies.
Obama golfed with longtime Hawaii friends Mike Ramos, Greg Orme and Bobby Titcomb, the Whte House said.
The president golfed for about five and a half hours and the motorcade returned to the vacation home at about 5:25 p.m.
Earlier Monday, the president hit the gym at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The motorcade went past a couple of protesters. One held a sign reading “A Good Life; Support People, not Corporate Greed.” Another sign said “Stop Israel’s Illegal Siege Killing Women, Children and Peace Activists. Malnutrition; Silent Genocide. Free Palestine.”
Obama arrived in Hawaii Friday evening after delaying his vacation due to the congressional stalemate over extending payroll tax cuts. The president is expected to return to Washington shortly after New Year’s Day.
