The First Family’s 2015 weeks-long Christmas vacation to Hawaii cost taxpayers at least $4.8 million, according to documents obtained by Judicial Watch through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Secret Service costs alone reached $1.2 million, with money spent in part on the rental of several Kailua homes for 19 nights, beginning December 18.
The Obamas’ official vacation spanned from December 18 to January 3. Secret Service had to arrive a bit earlier in order to stage security.
The total of the housing rentals by the Marine Corps base at Kaneohe Bay was about $245,993, Judicial Watch reported.
“The Secret Service also paid for rooms at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki and Golf Club,” Judicial Watch reported. “The Secret Service also reserved rooms at the Moana Surfrider resort on Waikiki Beach, and the Ala Moana Hotel, which cost a total of $40,249.48 and $671,895.99, respectively.”
Additionally, Secret Service agents spent $165,893 to rent 103 cars for the two weeks.
Meanwhile, the First Family lived like royalty on their vacation, staying at the posh Hale Reena Estate, a facility that “rents for anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000 a night, depending on the season,” the watchdog organization reported.
The Obamas’ dining choices – and the security details that had to be paid to join them – were also costly ventures. Judicial Watch is still waiting for a FOIA request to be fulfilled that detail these dollar amounts, but according to news sources covering the First Family’s vacation, they ate their dinners at celebrity chef-owned and otherwise top-notch restaurants. On top of that, Obama played seven rounds of golf, and went hiking and snorkeling – all ventures that required the presence of expensive security details.
“The Secret Service and the Air Force are being abused by unnecessary travel,” said Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton. “Unnecessary presidential travel for fundraising and luxury vacations on the taxpayers’ dime would be a good target for reform for the incoming Trump administration.”
