No plans for Obama to travel to Hawaii for Pearl memorial

President Barack Obama is no longer expected for the 75th Pearl Harbor Commemoration, an 11-day series of events to mark Dec. 7, 1941.

In a September briefing at the Hawaii Tourism Conference, Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were listed on a slate of dignitaries that had been expected, with organizer Tony Vericella saying there was a “strong possibility” that the Obamas would attend the “December 7th Remembered” gala next week at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort and the next day’s National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Commemoration at the USS Arizona Memorial.

Vericella and his media team did not respond to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s request for comment Thursday, but multiple other sources said the Obamas are now “99.9 percent unlikely to attend the events.” Also, the U.S. Secret Service and presidential advance teams, which tend to travel a week ahead of Obama’s visits, are notably absent, they said.

Obama’s absence could spark controversy given the milestone anniversary and the importance attached to it in his home state. More than 10,000 visitors and 400 media are expected.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, who will likely be in Washington to meet a Dec. 9 budget deadline, plans to introduce a resolution calling on the president to issue a National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day proclamation.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who is unable to attend the Hawaii events due to Congress being in session, plans to deliver floor remarks in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

“As we commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we honor the 2,403 who perished on that tragic day and the selfless service of our brothers and sisters in uniform who served in the days, months, and years that followed,” Gabbard said in a statement.

The USS Arizona has five remaining crew members, now in their 90s.

On May 27 Obama became the first sitting president to visit Hiroshima, where the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb on Aug. 6, 1945. At the time, supporters saw the visit as an important component in extending Obama’s non-nuclear proliferation agenda. However, others viewed the visit as unwarranted given Japan’s militaristic past.

“Nine hundred men are still in the Arizona entombed 75 years afterwards, and he has the audacity to go to Hiroshima,” Stephen K. Bannon, who is now President-elect Donald J. Trump’s chief strategist and senior counselor, said on a Breitbart Daily radio show May 27.

On Thursday, Obama press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama will travel to Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, where he will meet with active-duty service members at MacDill Air Force Base, home of the U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command.

There are rumors that Trump could come to Hawaii in Obama’s stead, but local sources say its unlikely given that there’s no Secret Service or advance team presence on his behalf. However, they say the Secret Service is expected later this month to ready Honolulu for Obama’s last presidential vacation in Hawaii, which could commence as early as Dec. 16.