ASSOCIATED PRESS
Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left a Ward 16 theater in Honolulu
yesterday after viewing a movie there.
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Some politics, then some fun
Obama urges truce in Georgian conflict
STORY SUMMARY »
Sen. Barack Obama condemned yesterday Russia's escalating warfare against Georgia, a former fellow Soviet state.
At the Kailua beachfront home where he was vacationing, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president called on Russia to stop its bombing and withdraw its ground forces.
Obama traveled with his wife, Michelle, to Honolulu to spend more time with his grandmother, watch the film "The Dark Knight" at Ward 16 Theatres and have dinner.
FULL STORY »
Star-Bulletin staff and news services
Sen. Barack Obama stepped out onto the driveway of the beachfront home where he was vacationing in Hawaii yesterday to condemn Russia's escalating warfare against Georgia, its neighbor on the Black Sea.
Due to a large response, Obama supporters are being turned away from the sold out event.
The presumptive Democratic nominee for president, on the third full day of a weeklong vacation, criticized Russia for its aggression and called for the country to stop its bombing and withdraw its ground forces.
"No matter how this conflict started, Russia has escalated it well beyond the dispute over South Ossetia and has now violated the space of another country," he said. "Russia has escalated its military campaign through strategic bombing and the movement of its ground forces into the heart of Georgia. There is no possible justification for these attacks."
He urged Russia to accept a Georgian offer of cease-fire and called for humanitarian assistance for the people of Georgia and casualties on both sides.
After the statement, Obama returned to the Kailua home for a few hours before traveling with wife Michelle to Honolulu to spend more time with his grandmother, watch the film "The Dark Knight" at a theater and have dinner. Unlike previous days when he spent a lot of time outdoors, he spent almost all of his time indoors yesterday.
With heavy security and more than a dozen members of the media waiting outside, he spent about a half-hour with his 85-year-old maternal grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, at her condominium where he lived for several years.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., with his wife, Michelle, walked into a restaurant for dinner yesterday in Honolulu.
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The 12-story building is a few blocks from the ice cream shop he worked at as a teenager. It is also within walking distance to Punahou School, from where he graduated in 1979.
Obama, who was born and raised in Honolulu, usually visits his grandmother in winter, but his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination prevented a visit last year.
Most moviegoers inside theater No. 9 at the Ward 16 Theatres were unaware of Obama.
Obama, accompanied by Secret Service agents, walked through the front doors after most of those attending the 3:40 p.m. showing had already taken their seats.
Obama sightings
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"Wow," said Robert Daniels, 40, of Makiki, who sat at the back of the theater. "Didn't even know. I never saw him. Nobody was pointing or anything like that."
But Huron Robinson, 59, of downtown Honolulu, said it was his lucky day.
"We sat right behind him," he said. "I thought that he was cool, and he comes in to enjoy the movie like a regular person."
And what was he doing?
"Eating popcorn," he said. "Everybody was passing popcorn. I tried not to stare."
Robinson said he was sitting with his wife, Michelle. Robinson's son was prepared to take a photo after the movie.
"Our friends won't believe it," he said. "I had a feeling today was going to be a lucky day. We found a good parking space and sat behind the next president of the United States."
Obama left the theaters through a rear entrance where a pool of reporters traveling with the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee were waiting. Obama wore a short-sleeved buttoned-down shirt, trousers and slippers.
Chris Raguindin, 22, a University of Hawaii-Manoa English major, said: "He looks pretty cool, and he's taller than he seems on TV.
"His personality that comes out during his speeches -- he seems very warm -- is as warm as how he seems (on TV)," he said.
Star-Bulletin reporter Leila Fujimori and Associated Press reporter Jaymes Song contributed to this report.