Protests follow Obama in Hawai’i

President Obama arrived in Hawai’i on Thursday for his winter vacation.  Security has been intense, including. as reported in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, a security zone that extended into the sea, blocking a favorite surf spot “Castles”:

Bob Ashton, a local resident and surfer, said the Coast Guard was not letting anyone surf Thursday past a yellow buoy marking the security zone.

But on Christmas surfers were able to catch waves just inside the zone.

“What are we going to do? We’re in board shorts,” Ashton said. “We’re not suicide surfers.”

Ikaika Vasconcellos said when he paddled out yesterday, Coast Guardsmen in a motorized rubber boat greeted him and told him he could surf as long as he did not cross an imaginary diagonal line between the yellow security buoy and a white security tent on shore closer to the Obama vacation home.

“They had guns on the boat,” Vasconcellos said. “So we were like, ‘OK, we won’t pass your line.'”

Merry Christmas!

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Gunboats in the canal where kayakers are usually paddling.  Photo: Kyle Kajihiro

Although much of the Obamas’ activities have been low key, much taking place within the secured compound or on the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base, there have been protests.  Thursday afternoon, as the motorcade arrived in Kailua, Hawaiian independence activists demonstrated.   The AP story mentioned the action:

A group of Hawaiian sovereignty activists standing near Pinky’s restaurant in Kailua spelled out “End US Occupation of Hawaii.”

Pono Kealoha posted the following video on YouTube:

Yesterday peace and anti-war groups held a demonstration at the entrance to Kailuana Place, just outside the security checkpoint.

Obama’s motorcade passed the demonstration on his way to Kaneohe Marine Corps Base where he played golf at the Klipper course, a “golfer’s paradise”.  Did someone tell him that he was golfing on the ancestral remains of Kanaka Maoli?

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http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20091227_Protesters_seizing_moment_to_air_out_their_concerns.html

Protesters seizing moment to air out their concerns

By B.J. Reyes

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 27, 2009

20091227_newsOBAMAprotest

FL MORRIS / FLMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM

On one corner, groups opposed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan carried signs urging an end to the conflicts on foreign soil.

Across the street, abortion foes protested the inclusion of funding for abortions in any health care reform bill.

“Chaotic,” was Kailuana Place resident Suzanne Sutherland’s description of the scene at the end of her block, where groups set up in hopes of getting President Barack Obama’s attention as he came and went from his vacation rental home.

“There’s children, there’s people coming and going to the beach, there’s the people on the sidewalk — with the cars — their lives are in danger,” Sutherland said. “The cars, they’re in danger of turning and looking at something and having an accident.”

The demonstrations were peaceful, though witnesses said one car that slowed down so someone could make an obscene gesture was involved in a fender bender.

Signs bore statements including “Stop the wars,” “Peace, put it in action” and “I don’t want to pay for baby killing.” At least one demonstrator carried the Hawaii state flag upside down.

“We think it’s really important, not only with the national coverage but international coverage, that people see that there are people here in Hawaii — even while he’s on vacation — who are saying ‘stop the war’ and we greatly oppose the war,” said Liz Rees, 39, of Honolulu, an organizer with the group World Can’t Wait.

Gary Boisclair, a local organizer with the Insurrecta Nex anti-abortion group founded by national activist Randall Terry, carried a sign reading, “President Obama, baby killing is not health care.”

“Today we are hoping to wake up our president and the public to the fact that this health bill cannot be passed with monies — direct or indirect — for the killing of innocent children,” said Boisclair, 41, of Honolulu.

The groups each numbered a few dozen strong by 10 a.m. but were gone by noon.

Obama passed through their ranks at 10:11 a.m. when his motorcade made its way to Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay for a round of golf at the base’s Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course.

Aides said Obama played a round of golf with Chicago pal Eric Whitaker and Hawaii friends Greg Orme, Mike Ramos and Bobby Titcomb.

Reporters were not allowed onto the golf course to view the president’s round.

After about six hours on the course, the motorcade left the base but stopped at Pyramid Rock Beach. Obama, wearing a white golf shirt, tan baseball cap and sunglasses, got out to check out the waves as surprised swimmers and sunbathers caught a glimpse of him as he took in the sights for a few minutes.

THE PRESIDENT’S motorcade returned to the vacation residence at 4:52 p.m.

Obama’s day started with a 6:20 a.m. conference call with John Brennan, his Homeland Security and counterterrorism adviser, and Denis McDonough, national security chief of staff.

“He received an update on the heightened air travel safety measures being taken to keep the American people safe and on the investigation,” deputy White House press secretary Bill Burton said in a statement. “The president will continue to actively monitor the situation.”

A Nigerian passenger on a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam allegedly set off an explosive device as the plane prepared to land in Detroit on Friday, according to authorities.

Obama and his wife, Michelle, also got in their usual morning workout at the Marine Corps base health club.

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http://www.kitv.com/video/22064832/index.html

2 Groups Protest At Obama Compound

Shayne Enright, KITV News

Click to watch the video.

Two separate groups of protesters on Saturday rallied outside the entrance to the Kailuana Place vacation compound in Kailua where President Barack Obama is staying for the holidays.

One group opposed the U.S. being at war. The other was against federal funding being included in health care reform legislation being negotiated in Congress.

“The health bill that will be presented to Obama — if it contains any monies directly or indirectly for abortion, we are begging the president to veto it,” protester Gary Boisclair said.

Several families from around the island held signs with a strong message.

“It’s personal to us because as you can see, we have a baby and every baby deserves to live,” North Shore resident Gwen Seely said.

The protests provoked reactions from drivers passing by. Some were in support of the rallies, while others yelled at the protesters to leave Obama alone.

Honolulu police and the Secret Service monitored the protests, which remained peaceful.

At one point, drivers gawking at the scene caused a fender-bender, but no one was injured.

About a dozen opponents of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan gathered nearby.

“A lot of people voted for Obama because he said he was for hope and change,” Liz Rees said. “He kind of campaigned as the so-called anti-war president.”

The protesters said they opposed sending more troops overseas.

“I support all the troops, and the best way we can support the troops is to bring them home,” Palolo resident Wally Inglis said.

Both groups were hoping Obama would notice the demonstrations.

“I think it is important while Obama is vacationing that people are out here saying, ‘Hey, we can’t just forget about the rest of the world because it’s Christmas and the holidays,” Rees said.

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http://www.khon2.com/content/news/developingstories/story/Protesters-Rally-Outside-President-Barack-Obamas/r61rivqf60u2tmabn6RAhQ.cspx

Protesters Rally Outside President Barack Obama’s Kailua Vacation Rental

Reported by: Brianne Randle

Email: brandle@khon2.com

Last Update: 12/26 7:07 pm

Immediately after a briefing with top security aides, President Barack Obama and first-lady Michelle left their Kailua vacation home around 6:30am for day two of their early morning workout. An hour later they returned.

Outside of their secured street, protesters began to gather. On one side, a dozen people held signs that read “Stop the War in Afghanistan”.

“I think the war has gotta stop, it’s illegal, it’s immoral and it’s wrong,” said protester, CJ Jung.

“We think it’s a good thing that if Obama sees us standing here and knows that even when he’s on vacation in Kailua there are people who oppose the war,” said Liz Rees, protester.

Across the street another group also gathered.

“We’re here to protest against abortion,” said Gwen Seely, protester.

The Seely’s and their 11-month old daughter Regan joined a handful of others in the protest.

“Trying to help our children and hold people accountable for their actions,” said Eric Seely, protester. “And when you’re making public decision you open yourself up to hearing the message from all those concerned.”

While both protests were calm, they did catch the attention of many drivers. Almost too well…

“Screech, slam and then all the neighbors came out to see what happened,” said Kailua resident Suzanne Sutherland.

“I don’t know what the right venue for that is if it’s the street corners where he drives by if that’s appropriate or for them to call their Senators and get their voices heard that way.”

While there was excitement outside of his home, President Obama decided to continue his Hawaiian Holiday. Taking in a picturesque round of golf at Kaneohe’s Klipper course at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The 18-hole course is described as a “golfers paradise”. The President played a round with four friends, three of them from Hawaii.

After golf, President Obama stopped at Pyramid Rock Beach which is on base, before returning to his vacation rental in Kailua.

One Comment

Pat

Thanks to all the citizens who stood for freedom, peace, & justice on Kalaheo Ave. The wars must stop, funding to Israel and Egypt must stop, and Palestinians right of existance and return must happen. Obama up to now has failed in the area of peace. American troops must come home in 2010 from wherever stationed outside US. The money is needed at home.

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