Obama's Hawaii retreat lost power for 11 hours

Philip Elliott ,  The Associated Press ,  Honolulu   |  Sun, 12/28/2008 9:42 AM  |  World

President-elect Barack Obama's Hawaiian vacation was darkened for 11 hours Friday night and early Saturday when a power outage enveloped the island of Oahu.

Obama, wife Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha are staying in a $9 million, five-bedroom oceanfront house near downtown Honolulu. Power to the compound went out around 7 p.m. Friday and was restored just before 6 a.m. Saturday, about the time as that of the neighbors, Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt said.

"The Obama family is grateful for the offers of assistance from local officials," LaBolt said.

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann said three generators had been installed earlier for Obama's rented compound. A fourth generator sent by Hawaiian Electric Co. was turned away, he said.

"He replied he didn't need anything, was grateful for our offer and was going to put his family to bed," said Hannemann, who did not talk with Obama directly.

Transition officials would not say if generators had been installed, but an aide said no generators were used and the Obamas spent the evening in the dark.

Crews gradually restored electrical service across parts of Oahu on Saturday after the power failure blacked out the island's population of about 900,000 and thousands of visitors.

Residents had been urged to just stay home after the lights went out during a thunderstorm Friday evening. Hawaiian Electric Co. was investigating the cause.

Service had been restored to about 180,000 of the utility's 295,000 customers by 8:30 a.m. Saturday, power company officials said.

Obama aides initially refused to release a timeline of events, such as when power was lost and restored. They have declined to discuss specific preparations for the president-elect's 12-day visit, citing security concerns.

A White House spokesman said Saturday that officials would brief Obama on the situation in the Middle East. Israel launched airstrikes into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and the regional violence has killed more than 200 people. Israeli officials said it was retaliation for Hamas' rocket attacks.

Obama has received security briefings on the buildup of troops between India and Pakistan. He also spoke with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

On Saturday, Obama returned to his vacation routine: a workout at the local Marine Corps Base Hawaii gym and a quick "hello" to the military families who stood across the parking lot from his motorcade.

Michelle Obama and friends from Chicago - Valerie Jarrett, Eric Whitaker and Martin Nesbitt - joined the president-elect. Obama has skipped working out only one day - Christmas - on the base since he arrived in Hawaii on Dec. 20.

Obama and his family have tried to keep a low profile during the vacation, although the man who becomes president on Jan. 20 is finding that difficult. Although the president-elect has no public schedule, his infrequent trips to play golf and grab quick lunches have drawn dozens of gawkers who want to catch a glimpse of Obama, who was born and raised on the island.

 

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