President Barack Obama spent his morning on the beach and afternoon on the golf course yesterday, both favourite destinations during his Hawaiian holidays.

US President Barack Obama made the first public appearance of his holiday, stopping by one of his favourite local shops for a Hawaiian snow cone known as “shave ice”.

PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama made clear to his aides that he wanted to spend the Christmas holiday in Hawaii, as he had done in years past: there is no more campaign, this will be a true family vacation.

US president-elect Barack Obama visited US military families while they ate Christmas dinner, thanking them for their service and posing for pictures.