Obama brings taste of Hawaii to White House
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama brought some island flavor to Washington Thursday.
The White House turned the annual picnic for members of Congress and their families into a Hawaiian luau, in celebration of the president's home state. Tents were set up on the South Lawn, tiki torches lined the perimeter, and potted palm trees were brought in.
"I hope everybody's got their Hawaiian shirts and their muumuus for our luau tonight," Obama told lawmakers gathered at the White House Thursday for a meeting on immigration.
On the menu are traditional luau foods like kalua pig and lomi lomi salmon prepared by famed Hawaii chef Alan Wong.
Wong said he's been discussing the menu with the White House for more than a month. In addition to luau fare, he was flavoring the menu with some picnic favorites_ but with a twist, like wasabi potato salad.
Wong first met Obama several years ago, when the then-senator ate at one of his Hawaii restaurants. Wong said the president is showing his guests great respect by throwing a luau.
"To do a luau in Hawaii is a special occasion," Wong said. "You throw a luau for your child's first birthday, or you throw a luau for a wedding."
Hawaii has seen its profile raised in Washington since its native son moved into the White House. In January, the 50th state held its first state inaugural ball — also a luau — and the marching band from the president's high school, the Punahou School in Honolulu, performed in the inaugural parade.
In addition to a Hawaiian meal, the White House said traditional island entertainment was being offered, including a performance by Tihati, a group featuring members from each of the Hawaiian islands.
Darlene Morikawa, of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, said they offered a blend of Polynesian and traditional hula dancing.
Morikawa said she wouldn't be surprised to see the president get into the act. "He seems to be a good sport," Morikawa said.
Also proving to be good sports? Several White House officials, including chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and press secretary Robert Gibbs, who were set to take their turn in the dunk tank.
"My only concern at this point is that the water gets a little warmer maybe before we start throwing," Gibbs said Thursday.
Many members of Congress and other top figures sent their RSVPs for the luau, including Democratic Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka of Hawaii; Roberta McCain, the mother of the 2008 Republican presidential candidate; House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio; and Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.
Before the luau, the Obamas put some members of Congress to work in their ongoing effort to promote community service. Five representatives joined the Obamas at Fort McNair, where they assembled 15,000 backpacks for children of military families.
The event was part of the president's ongoing effort to promote community service. He launched a new service initiative, "United We Serve", aimed at getting people to tackle problems in the areas of education, health, energy and the environment and community renewal.
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