Sasha Obama, left, Malia Obama, US President Barack Obama, and first lady Michelle Obama, in second row, walk to board Air Force One from Andrews Air Force Base on December 19, 2014. (Associated Press)
US President Barack Obama is kicking off his annual winter vacation in his birthplace of Hawaii.
Air Force One touched down on Friday at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, with the President, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters on board. The Obamas were to spend roughly two weeks on the island of Oahu before returning to Washington in early January.
Typically, Obama spends the vacation playing golf on Hawaii's lush courses, dines out at Honolulu restaurants, and joins his kids for hikes and shave ice treats. Obama has no public events planned during his stay.
Before departing the White House, Obama said he was looking forward to some quiet time and to spending Christmas with his family. He also wished reporters a "mele kalikimaka." That's Hawaiian for "Merry Christmas."