Obama starts delayed Hawaiian holiday
By JULIE PACE, Associated Press
Dec 24, 2011 12:47 AM CST
President Barack Obama, right, is greeted by from left, Admiral Robert Willard, Commander U.S. Pacific Command, Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle and Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schata after arriving at Hickam Air Force Base for his holiday vacation in Honolulu, Friday, Dec. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)   (Associated Press)

President Barack Obama may have had to delay his vacation by about a week, but now that he is in Hawaii, he isn't wasting any time starting his holiday.

Less than 30 minutes after landing in Hawaii Friday night, the president and Michelle Obama headed out to one of their favorite dinner spots _ Morimoto Restaurant. The White House says the Obamas were joined at dinner by several friends.

Mrs. Obama has been in Hawaii with her daughters for a week. But the president delayed his departure to stay in Washington while Congress worked out an agreement on extending expiring payroll tax cuts.

The president has no public events planned while in Hawaii. A small group of advisers are traveling with him to brief him on domestic and international developments.

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