Local taxpayers fund at least $350K in security costs for Obama Hawaiian vacations

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS: President Barack Obama likes to spend the Christmas holidays in Hawaii, where cirst lady Michelle Obama stayed behind to party with the likes of Oprah Winfrey for the first lady’s 50th birthday.
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS: President Barack Obama likes to spend the Christmas holidays in Hawaii, where cirst lady Michelle Obama stayed behind to party with the likes of Oprah Winfrey for the first lady’s 50th birthday.

KAILUA, Hawaii — During her recent visit to Maui and the home of close family friend Oprah Winfrey, First Lady Michelle Obama was escorted by Maui police.

The tab for that protection? $54,233.70, said a spokesman for the Maui Police Department.

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That’s a drop in the bucket, though.

Honolulu police protected the first family while they spent some 15 days during the holidays in Kailua, Oahu.

Michelle Yu, spokeswoman for the Honolulu Police Department, said Thursday the department spent $293,731.99 for overtime only, an expense that excludes normal salary pay.

Neither county police department will seek federal reimbursement for those expenses, putting the burden on local taxpayers.

In 2008, when the Obamas first visited Oahu during the holidays, the City and County of Honolulu sought reimbursement, but were never repaid. Now the county budgets for the president’s annual holiday visit.

The Obama Hawaiian vacation costs more than $4 million total for travel, staffing, security, housing, car rentals and transportation of vehicles and a helicopter.

Michelle Obama’s extended vacation on the island of Maui, which the president said was an early birthday present for her, also entailed the cost for Secret Servicetravel, rental cars and accommodations, as well as transportation.

White House Spokesman Jay Carney acknowledged in a news conference just after the First Lady flew to Maui that taxpayers are picking up some of the cost of her trip and travel back to Washington D.C., but would not disclose the details.

“As with all personal travel, the first family will appropriately fund personal expenses … And in line with travel of past presidents and first ladies, the First Lady will travel via government aircraft,” Carney said in response to a question from Fox News.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the First Lady typically flies in either a C-40 or a C-32 aircraft.

Operational cost per flight hour ranges from $19,755 on the C-40B to $42,918 on the C-32A, so a 10-hour flight could cost anywhere from $197,550 to $429,180.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi took her own Hawaiian vacation in December, which overlapped the president’s by one day.

Pelosi stayed on Hawaii Island for nine days in December, costing local taxpayers $22,873 for police security details. The Hawaii Island police will not seek reimbursement.

Pelosi makes the trip here annually, and she covers her own hotel and flight costs on commercial airlines.


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  1. KHon added the following details about this travesty. City's Budget Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi said; “To not get reimbursed is very difficult for us. We’re having a tough time financially,” “It’s wonderful seeing them enjoying themselves here, but you know we are short of money. It’s like having children on vacation. We love taking them on vacation, but there’s all this money that we have to put out,” Councilmember Kobayashi said.the city has asked the federal government for money back for the president’s other visits and was turned down.
    HPD says overtime costs for those ran anywhere from $200,000 to $250,000 each year. After five visits since taking office, the president has cost the city more than $1 million.
    Kobayashi says the city budget is about $150 million short for the upcoming fiscal year. The overtime money can go back to HPD as well as the city’s operating budget.“Can certainly help us and we can restore bus service. There are lots we can do. We’re trying to fix our sewers, repair the potholes,”

  2. B.O.'s speech declared 2104 a “year of action,” Obama also sought to convince an increasingly skeptical public that he still wields power in Washington even if he can’t crack through the divisions in Congress. Burned by a series of legislative failures in 2013, White House aides say they’re now redefining success not by what Obama can jam through Congress but by what actions he can take on his own…"

    WE should have known!….ALL of his vacations reflect his "actions he can take on his own…"

  3. […] Local taxpayers fund at least 0K in security costs for Obama Hawaiian … The Obama Hawaiian vacation costs more than $ 4 million total for travel, staffing, security, housing, car rentals and transportation of vehicles and a helicopter. Michelle Obama's extended vacation on the island of Maui, which the president said was an … Read more on Hawaii Reporter […]

  4. Barack could give a crap if hes draining us here financially.. why does michelle need protection.. who the hell give a rat about her..

  5. […] Local taxpayers fund at least 0K in security costs for Obama Hawaiian … HAPPY HOLIDAYS: President Barack Obama likes to spend the Christmas holidays in Hawaii, where cirst lady Michelle Obama stayed behind to party with the likes of Oprah Winfrey for the first lady's 50th birthday. KAILUA, Hawaii — During her recent visit … Read more on Hawaii Reporter […]

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