Obama Leaves for Hawaii

by Chris Good - 12/20/08 5:58 PM ET

President-elect Barack Obama left Chicago today for Hawaii, his place of birth, where he plans to spend the holidays with his family and a few friends. The Obamas are expected to return to Chicago Dec. 30.

Obama last traveled to Hawaii in October to visit his ailing grandmother shortly before she died.

The Obama family will spend its 10-day vacation with the families of two or three friends at a multimillion-dollar beachfront property on Oahu, according to the AP.

The weather in Hawaii should prove a significant upgrade for the Obama family: they will be greeted with 80-degree temperatures on the islands, while Chicago expects a temperature of six degrees (Fahrenheit) tomorrow.