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First family frees turtles, spends time at Sea Life Park

By Associated Press

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 28, 2011
LAST UPDATED: 05:05 a.m. HST, Dec 28, 2011

President Barack Obama and his family spent a warm and sunny Tuesday afternoon at one of the most popular snorkeling spots on Oahu, where they released four green sea turtles into the water.

The Obamas arrived at Hanauma Bay Nature Park after a scenic, 40-minute drive from their multimillion-dollar rented vacation home on Kailua Beach. The park is a favorite destination for the Obamas, who make an annual trip there during their Christmas holiday in Hawaii -- always on Tuesdays, when the park is closed to the public for maintenance.

This year the president and his family released four green sea turtles into the bay's clear blue water. The 18-month-old turtles were born at Sea Life Park, a nearby marine sanctuary and aquarium that boasts of being the only place in the U.S. that raises green sea turtles in captivity.

The president and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, enjoyed their turtle experience so much that they decided to make a stop at Sea Life Park later in the day. The president appeared briefly before cameras as he left the park, climbed into a waiting SUV and headed back to his vacation rental.

The president has stayed largely out of the spotlight since arriving Friday evening in Hawaii. He spent a low-key holiday with his family, attended Christmas church services and visited service members stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay.

Obama also has hit the golf course, worked out at the gym on the Marine base and taken wife Michelle Obama out to dinner.

Behind the scenes, the president is being briefed by a small cadre of traveling staff on domestic and international developments, including his administration's debate over whether to allow Yemen's outgoing leader to come to the U.S. for medical treatment. Obama also announced two nominees to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors on Tuesday.

Obama has no public events planned during his vacation, which is expected to last until shortly after New Year's Day.

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Maneki_Neko wrote:

I can only hope he will free the taxpayer soon. From all that spending.

on December 28,2011 | 08:24AM

motoxdad wrote:

You mean freeing us from the GIGANTIC hole that Bush threw everyone but the 1% into.

on December 28,2011 | 09:12AM

Maneki_Neko wrote:

Yup, that was a big hole. But Barry made it a whole lot bigger. A whole lot! When are you going to understand there is really no difference between the parties, it is only the haves and the have nots. Bush has been gone a long time - has your economic status improved?

on December 28,2011 | 11:49AM

entrkn wrote:

I do not make much but I would be glad to pay more taxes if every person and business paid commensurately more taxes based on their gross incomes because that would quickly put America in the best shape it has been in since Bill Clinton was President.

on December 28,2011 | 05:04PM

smooshpappy wrote:

I wonder what those little turtles did, that they had to spend all that time in juvy hall. It was nice of the President to set them free. Hopefully they will grow to be law abiding, church going adult turtles. Hanauma is a a great half-way facility for reformed turtles.

on December 28,2011 | 06:01PM

motoxdad wrote:

wow, more like smooshedbrains

on December 29,2011 | 09:30AM

loio wrote:

only a "know nothing", with no regard of the facts, figures or graphs, would trot out the pedestrian, incorrect trope that the hole we're in is a Bush one. lemmings are lemmings, though, i suppose. 1/20/13 can't come soon enough.

on December 28,2011 | 10:59AM

motoxdad wrote:

show the facts, figures and graphs that say it wasn't Bush that dug us that metaphoric hole,

on December 28,2011 | 04:58PM

sophie808 wrote:

Yup everyone forgets the pre-Obama years don't they? Yup those pre-Obama years that threw the US into its economic downturn, the housing screw up, and Iraq. Stop complaining, how about contributing some ideas on how to fix things! Two things for sure in life as they say...death and taxes.

on December 28,2011 | 11:01AM

Anonymous wrote:

Obama needs to go HOME to Chicago. He misappropriates "I am from Hawai'i" so now much of the world thinks that PEOPLE from HAWAI'I are selfish and do not care about the record high 41.5 million Americans who are on food stamps.

Under Obama's rule home ownership for popolos and Latins especially have declined.

Under Obama's rule, TARP2, Quantitative Easing 2, and Quantitative Easing 3 have adversely affected us THE MOST. Under Obama's rule, unemployment for popolos have surged to 16.7% in August, its highest level since 1984, whereas for whites, the unemployment rate fell slightly to 8%.
br> People who are from Hawai'i do not do this to other people!

OBAMA... GO HOME! WE DO NOT WANT YOU HERE!

on December 28,2011 | 03:55PM

Akhmed_PKC wrote:

what's up with all the haters? hawaii wasn't always like this!

on December 28,2011 | 06:15PM

NicholasGMLum wrote:

I wonder why this local newspaper is spending so much time reporting on where President Obama is. Isn't there something more substantive to report than where he is golfing or where he is relaxing? Journalism has really declined.

on December 28,2011 | 08:30PM

kuewa wrote:

Mahalos to the First Family for continuing to set great examples for all of us; and an extra mahalo to the President for returning to your one hanau for your holidays !

on December 28,2011 | 08:39PM

Carang_da_buggahz wrote:

Yes, let's follow the great example of Mr. Obama. Everyone, run out now and max out your credit cards, and then some! Let someone else worry about paying for the bill! Obama will reward you by relieving you of your financial responsibilities and having someone else (i.e. the One-percenters) bearing the burden because, after all, THEY aren't paying their "Fair" share!

on December 29,2011 | 10:20AM