President Barack Obama and his family are once again back in Hawaii for their winter break. On Christmas Day, the President and First Lady quietly visited the Marine Corps Base Honolulu to thank the troops for their service to the country, and have maintained a low-key work schedule. It’s not all work and no play, however.
The president has vacationed on Oahu, where he lived from the age of 10 to 18, for the past three years. In addition to catching up with friends from his days at Punahou Academy, and visiting with his half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, in Honolulu, the Obamas and their dog Bo relax in the elegant planned community of Paradise Point Estates in Kailua.
While the Obama family and security staff occupy the adjacent Plantation and Balinese estates at Paradise Point, most of the retinue stays in Honolulu hotels. Honolulu is also the site of the Obama’s favorite high-end restaurant, Alan Wong’s, and the many ice cream and shaved ice parlors the island is famous for.
Being “at home” is fun too. Both Paradise Point homes have about 7,000 square-feet of breathing room and spectacular views of Kailua Bay and the Mokulua Islands. The Obama’s Plantation Estate also has a center courtyard with a secluded lagoon-style pool pavilion including tropical waterfalls and a lavish island spa. Sounds ideal to us.
According to the Paradise Point press office, the home’s ocean lanai and garden lanai (both enclosed patios with barbecues) showcase the compound’s ornate landscaping and the estate is furnished with artistic etched windows, stained glass, natural stone tiles throughout, and African mahogany carvings.
There is a rich island tradition of royalty spending time on Kailua Beach, as the 2.5-mile-long white sand shore where Malia (age 12) and Sasha (now 9) spend their days is said to be the gathering place of ancient kings and the birthplace of the Hawaiian people. As a boy, Barack and his grandfather would make the short trip to Kailua Beach to swim in the cool shadow of Mount Olomana. Today, the popular beach hugs a sheltered bay that is ideal for swimming or watersports that require strong breezes but gentle surf, such as windsurfing and kite boarding.
If you’re considering following in the Obamas’ footsteps, your family will be able to take advantage Paradise Point Estates’ 40 golf courses, many other beaches for sailing and kite boarding, excellent medical facilities, fine dining and entertainment venues, and a community health club and Spa. For visitors, watersports rental equipment and instruction is available along the beach.
Additionally, families who rent there can enjoy the many other family activities on the island of Oahu. Ready for more information? Rates and booking details can be found at Paradise Point Estates.
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This place is awesome. We have delivered baby equipment rentals there a couple times and love it. It seems to work great for families traveling with young kids because the age range is usually between 2-8 years old when we deliver. Great beach and location. Thumbs up!