Obamas cheer Oregon State at Stan Sheriff Center
President Barack Obama walks into the Stan Sheriff Center with his daughter Malia to watch the Oregon State vs. Akron basketball game today.
President Barack Obama greets people in the stands as he takes a break from watching the Oregon State University versus University of Akron college basketball game at the Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013. Michelle Obama's bother, Craig Robinson, is the Coach of Oregon State. The first family is in Hawaii for their annual holiday vacation. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson, right, watches his team play Akron along with his brother-in-law President Barack Obama, top center, and his sister the first lady Michelle Obama, top left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Diamond Head Classic Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
From left, Malia Obama, Sasha Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, and Bobby Titcomb attend the Oregon State University versus University of Akron college basketball game at the Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013. Michelle Obama's bother, Craig Robinson, is the Coach of the Oregon State. The first family is in Hawaii for their annual holiday vacation. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama arrives with his daughter Malia to watch the Oregon State University versus University of Akron college basketball game at the Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu today.
A dancing polar bear protester showed up at the Oregon State - Akron basketball game to uge President Obama to reject the Keystone pipeline.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama with daughter Sasha, third from right, and Malia, fourth from right sit with family members and friends during the Oregon State University versus University of Akron college basketball game at the Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center today.
President Barack Obama sits with longtime friend Bobby Titcomb during the Oregon State University versus University of Akron college basketball game at the Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, today.
President Barack Obama arrives with his daughter Malia to watch the Oregon State University versus University of Akron college basketball game at the Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center today.
President Barack Obama and the vacationing first family skipped the beach in Hawaii Sunday to take in a college basketball game.
Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha and Malia and mother-in-law Marian Robinson attended the Oregon State-Akron game Sunday at the Diamond Head Classic tournament in Honolulu.
Obama and the first family sat behind the Beavers bench in support of OSU coach Craig Robinson, Obama’s brother-in-law, with the president sitting in between his wife and friend Bobby Titcomb.
Midway through the second half, Obama shifted down to sit with Robinson’s wife, who held a young child on her lap.
The crowd of 3,405 mostly cheered Obama when he appeared out of one of the Stan Sheriff lower tunnels.
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Fans took pictures while press photographers and videographers crowded an entrance to take pictures. Throughout the game, some fans ignored the action on the floor and watched the president instead.
The arena beefed up security because of the president, screening players and cheerleaders and their belongings with metal detectors in the hours before the tournament tipped off.
During a second half time-out, a man dressed in a polar bear costume and a woman with an anti Keystone Pipeline sign saying "Beavers Hate Pipelines," began dancing across the court from where the Obamas were sitting. It was unclear if the president noticed them.
Obama is a noted basketball fan and recreational player. Oregon State was 4-0 with Obama in attendance, but Akron beat Oregon State 83 to 71.
It was the second OSU game this season Obama attended. He saw the Beavers win at Maryland last month.
The president and his motorcade left the arena shortly after the game ended.
The president’s motorcade left his Kailua vacation home for Manoa at about 2:18 p.m. Some people who were stopped along the way for the motorcade got out of their vehicles to wave at the spectacle and flash the shaka sign at the president.
