Obama: America Needs the "Aloha" Spirit
(HONOLULU) Shortly after touching down at Honolulu International Airport, Barack Obama and his family were greeted by 4,000 supporters at Keehi Lagoon Beach Park. Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannermann, introduced the presumptive Democratic nominee as the "latest and greatest gift to the world."
Obama, who spoke to the crowd for roughly 20 minutes, began by saying he will not be campaigning while in Oahu.
"We're not here to politic, what we're mainly here to do is to thank you," he told the crowd.
He said he is looking forward to eating at local restaurants, bodysurfing "at an undisclosed location", and spending time with his family, including his grandmother, who helped raise him and still lives in Hawaii.
Obama, also said that he still embodies the "Aloha" spirit" despite living much of his adult life outside of Hawaii. He explained that the spirit is the idea "that we all have obligations to each other, that we're not alone," and emphasized the diversity of the islands.
"When you come from Hawaii you start understanding that what's on the surface, what people look like, that doesn't determine who they are," Obama said adding that America is looking for the Aloha spirit.
After the rally, he quickly jetted off to visit his grandmother, who he calls his "Tutu."