Barack Obama's Hawaii vacation "elitist?" Then so are the 5.5 million Americans who vacationed there last year

Barack Obama visits the Valley of the Temples on the windward side of Oahu

The latest contender for the Stupidest Attempt to Make a Mountain Out of a Mole Hill award has to be the brain trust that is trying to spread the meme that vacationing in Hawaii is elitist. Not helping matters is Cokie Roberts' recent gaffe where she referred to Hawaii as "foreign" and "exotic."

Idiots.

This reminds of when my family moved from Hawaii to California and my new sixth grade teacher said, "Welcome to America!" And "Was your last school taught in English?" To which I wanted to reply, "Are you DUMB?"

People from Hawaii often have to put up a lot of stupid questions and misunderstandings from mainland Americans who should know better. Everyone from Hawaii expects to be asked if they lived in a grass shack at least once, trust me on that one.

To whomever is referring to Hawaii as elitist I have only one question. It's not: How could you forget that Hawaii is a state and therefore the perfect place for a presumptive presidential nominee to vacation? It's not: Didn't you realize that Obama was born in Hawaii, went to school there, and his grandmother, sister, brother-in-law, and niece still live there? It's not: How come Obama doesn't have a family compound, ranch or retreat like McCain? No, it's not any of those things.

It's this: Have you never been to Waikiki and seen entire families walking around dressed in matching Hawaiian shirts and muumuus?

Okay, another: Have you never seen entire groups of drunken recent high school graduates stumbling down Kalakaua Avenue in matching puka shells, flip flops, and sun burns?

He's staying in a house in Kailua, not the Grand Wailea Resport and Spa. Sure Honolulu has fancy stores and multi-million dollar homes but so do lots of other states. When Obama landed in Honolulu he said he wanted to have a shave ice and go to Zippy's or Rainbow Drive-in for a plate lunch. You know what the specialities of both those restaurants are? Spam. Spam and macaroni salad. Elitist? Bollocks.

Normally I'd be content with this being the last word, but in this case, I'll let one of Hawaii's senators have it:

Senator Akaka (D-HI) on Cokie Roberts and her "exotic" statements

"Saying our 50th state is somehow 'foreign,' does a great disservice to the hard working, patriotic Americans who call Hawaii home. For months people have been asking me, 'when is Sen. Obama going to come home?' I'm so glad he found time to visit his sister and his grandmother, show his daughters more of his home state, and relax a little. Hawaii is a great U.S. destination, just ask the 5.5 million Americans who visited last year for business and pleasure."

P.S. Senator Obama, my girls recommend the shave ice at Matsumoto's.

H/T: Jason Sperber and my mom who lives in Hawaii.

Comments

[cynematic]

/eyeroll.

McCain campaign, grasping at straws much?

When you own nine houses and have access to your wife's private jet=McCains, elitist.

When you vacation in Hawaii, where you were born and still have family=Obama. Not elitist.

This "elitist" meme is stupid with racist on top--what's the implication here, black people aren't supposed to achieve success?

I guess McCain can't win on issues so he has to take the low road.

[GraceD]

HAAAAAA! "Spam and macaroni salad" indeed.

You're an Island Girl, you know the deal. I'm a wannabe Island Girl (and happily can pass for one) and Oahu, with the exception of only a few exclusive neighborhoods, is as hometown as it gets. Kailua, though it may have the big houses on the bay/beach, is your basic suburb. If Island Boy Obama wanted to go glam, he'd do the Hamptons thing or hang with Oprah in Santa Barbara. Oahu? It's all ohana, wahine.

[Kristin]

OH, that exotic place with uh, lessee, AMERICANS! Next he'll go to Vanuatu! Does Mark Penn whisper sweet nothings into Cokie's ear at night?

[Sarah Granger]

And let's not forget Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941. Same island.

[Suebob]

Can't a man go see his Nana?

[Lori]

We've experienced the culture shift one feels when visiting Hawai'i. While we didn't expect to have to change currency (for the LOVE!) or learn much in a new language, we did feel that we'd left "America" for a whole other land. We felt we had escaped not just to vacation in another state, but to a whole other world. This is, of course, partly due to the long flight. That creates a sense of excitement. I believe most mis-directed commentary about it being foreign is out of admiration for such a fine land that we forget is part of our own. I won't say the same for political commentary, however. They are supposed to appear to know better since they have people writing for them!

We were also immensely lucky to tour the temple grounds while there---sheer luck as we had NO IDEA to plan for that part of the trip---and felt even more like we'd left our "world" for another. I still---to this day---get tingly when I think about that amazing place and the beginning of the majestic stone temple.

I wish only that Hawai'i were bigger and closer so that more could visit the amazing lands.

Thank you to our friends, Beth and Marc, for hosting us for and immensely worldly-feeling vacation.

[Nina]

What idiotic crap. Seriously. This kind of crap just makes me want to pull my hair out.

You rock Stefania.

Foreign. Exotic. Elitist. *snort*

[Debbie]

Last time I checked, a vacation in Hawaii an unofficial part of the American dream (right after the second car). And frankly, it doesn't bother me for a minute if he wants to eat someplace fancy or stay someplace nice. That man works hard ;)

[Leila]

I would also like to point out that, you know, AS A STATE, we have VOTERS here! Really! And frankly, it's nice to have a candidate come here to ask for our vote. ('nuff said.)

[Daisy]

Well said!

[birdgal]

Hmmm, I wonder if my Rush Limbaugh disciple father has heard of this rubbish--he was just in Hawaii for a two week vacation! He will shudder to know that he's being grouped in with the 'elites'.

Gah. This is probably the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Go Stefania!

[Christine]

Idiocy. These TV pundits are so out of touch, it's frightening.

[Linda]

If Obama vacationed in Newark, the GOP would probably still find something to carp about. As it is, they probably want to see Barack windsurfing...

Pass the shave ice!

[Helene]

Right on Stef!!! I couldn't agree with you more!! You should see the responses I get when people ask, and I answer that I am an alumni of UH undergrad and law. Foreign and exotic??!! DUMB is right. If we want to throw the word "elitist" around, why don't we start with McCain using his wife's company jet on the campaign trail? Or her $100 million net worth that he must benefit from. Elitist? My ASS!!!

[Catherine of Ivanhoe]

What they really want to say is "Uppity Nigger". However, they know that is truly not in their best interest. People are having to come out of their quiet prejudices, that is just the way it is. When people find out that I have 3 Master degrees and 2 Doctorates, it shocks them, because I don't act like they think I should act! There are quite a few crazies out there as of yet.

[Lisa]

FYI...Waiola shave ice is even better than Matsumoto's. (They have two locations in Honolulu. One is in Kapahulu and the original on Waiola Ave. near the old stadium park.)

[Kailua Sistah]

I live in Hawaii and have had various friends and family visit every year. They pretty much like to do what the Obamas did when they were here. It was hardly an "exotic" vacation at all. Just a lot of good fun with the family. You can see all the things they did while here by visiting the Obama link on my website: http://armchairhawaii.com/Attractions/obama/index.html