According to the Associated Press, President Elect Obama has stayed in Oahu vacation rentals at least twice in 2008 while staying on the island with his family. Oahu is where Obama grew up, and it makes sense he'd bring his family back there on vacation. Who wouldn't? What many people don't realize, is that he doesn't have an estate, and the US government doesn't have on there. Often President's will stay on local military installations, but for a family...is that really a vacation? It's hard enough with all the needed security for them. I don't envy them as a family, but I am happy for them that they could stay in this beautiful estate. It's far higher priced than we could afford (and unless I'm terribly naive that the Obamas could afford until recently), it's a great option for them. To see more about the house take a look: Oahu Vacation Rental for Obama family Christmas 2008
To see a bit more about his stay and the history of the home (notice how the media focuses on the fact it's a $9mm house, but not on the rent for his stay) at APNews from The Associated Press: "Obamas rent beach home in low-key Hawaii town
Later news posts have Obama working every day but Christmas, working out at the local Marine Base gym, having a power outage (generators on site for him), and dealing with paparazzi.
