Mr Obama flies to Washington on Sunday, ahead of his Jan 20 inauguration. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
CHICAGO - PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama and his family returned to Chicago early on Friday morning from their 12-day holiday in Hawaii and prepared to fly onward to Washington in the coming days.
Mr Obama's chartered plane landed in his hometown, where thermometers showed a chilly 30 degrees (-1.11 Celsius). When he left Honolulu about eight hours earlier, temperatures were in the 70s (low 20s Celsius). He joked to reporters during a brief New Years Day visit to the press cabin that his wife and girls weren't speaking to him because of the change in climate.
Earlier in the day, he said goodbye to residents on the island where his family vacationed.
'I wish I could hang out with you but I've got to go home,' Mr Obama told onlookers Thursday as he left his morning workout at Kailua's Marine Corps Base Hawaii near Honolulu.
He won't be home long: The Obamas are expected to fly to Washington on Sunday.
While on vacation, Mr Obama took advantage of his last break before he takes office on Jan 20 and a rented US$9 million beach-front home.
He had few public events, other than small talk with residents who followed his every move.
He played golf three times - and bemoaned his performance each time - and basketball at his alma mater, the private Punahou School.
He also made the quick motorcade to the nearby Marine Corps base for workouts.
He stayed out of the escalating situation in the Middle East, where Israeli troops have launched an offensive against Hamas leaders who fired rockets from Gaza. Aides say there is only one president at a time, but Mr Obama received security briefings and spoke with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and his incoming national security team.
Michelle Obama similarly remained out of sight, other than the occasional trip to the gym. She did not join Mr Obama and the girls when they went to an aquatic park or to the zoo, nor when he visited the nearby Marine base on Christmas Day.
The Obamas won't have that out-of-sight ability much longer.
Mr Obama plans to meet with President George W. Bush and former presidents at the White House on Wednesday, as well as meetings with Democratic leaders on a legislative package to aid the nation's ailing economy. A
nd 7-year-old Sasha and 10-year-old Malia are to start school at Washington's elite Sidwell Friends School on Monday.
The Obamas aren't set to move into the president-elect's traditional Washington quarters until Jan 15. In the interim, the first family-in-waiting will stay at the historic Hay-Adams Hotel near the White House. -- AP
