Obama Raises $1.3 Million At Hawaiian Fund-raiser
(HONOLULU) Barack Obama attended a fundraiser which pulled in $1.3 million for his campaign on Tuesday evening, in what is expected to be the last of two public appearances while he vacations here this week.
500 supporters gathered at the Kahala Hotel and Resort, where they donated at least $2,300 to the general election fund. Hotel guests waited outside the ballroom where the event took place to catch a glimpse of Obama, the state's congressional delegation and local celebrities, including Daniel Dae Kim from "Lost."
Obama and his wife, Michelle, took the stage almost two hours after the event began. He acknowledged many of his friends and Punahou classmates in the audience, and thanked them for their support. "I've got friends here who have just been lifelong friends, people who have seen me through thick and thin, in tough times and in good times," he said.
Earlier in the day, Obama played basketball with his Chicago buddies and some high school classmates at Punahou. Also on hand was former high school dean, Paula Kurashige, who Obama said helped him get into college. He spent the rest of his afternoon on the beach with his family and friends.