What might have been simply a local news story and a faint blip on the national radar became a major news event outside of Hawaii because of the presence of President-elect Barack Obama.

News of Oahu's islandwide blackout Friday night and early yesterday morning, and its effect on the vacationing future first family, was disseminated far and wide.

Some of the national and international headlines on the Internet read: “;Power cut darkens Obama's vacation island,”; “;The lights go out on Oahu and the Obamas”; and “;Hawaiian Island blackout leaves Obama in the dark.”;

State officials, including Gov. Linda Lingle, said they feared the possibility of Hawaii being cast in a negative light, but were pleased by what they saw.

“;In watching the cable news networks there was really, I thought, very good coverage,”; Lingle said in a conference call with reporters yesterday. “;It talked about the president-elect getting the emergency generation that he needed, the military coming in as well.

“;It seemed as if it was just no big deal and I was very happy for that.”;

Marsha Wienert, the state's tourism liaison, was on Maui and said she monitored all of the national broadcasts.

“;I can say it was very fair,”; Wienert said. “;I think they did a good job and I don't believe there is a need for us to do any damage control. If I did, we'd already be doing it.”;

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann said that, if anything, the nationwide attention would show how quickly the island's first-responders acted, and how safe the city was.

After the October 2006 earthquake, tourism outlets, including the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, took steps to promote a positive image of the islands after a similar islandwide blackout.

The effort included constant Web site updates, news releases, print and broadcast media interviews and a video package distributed to TV outlets across the country.

Obama and his family appeared to take the blackout in stride.

Aides said power went out to the Obama's $9 million Kailua vacation rental at about 7 p.m. Friday night and was restored about 11 hours later.

By yesterday morning, Obama was back to his vacation routine of working out at the Semper Fit Center at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. With the exception of Christmas Day, Obama has worked out at the gym for about an hour every morning since arriving in Hawaii on Dec. 20.

He was accompanied to the gym by wife, Michelle, and close friends Valerie Jarrett, Martin Nesbitt and Eric Whitaker.

Obama also has taken time most mornings to visit with the small crowds that gather in the parking lot of the fitness center.

Yesterday, roughly 30 people of all ages had waited to see him. Obama, wearing his Chicago White Sox baseball cap backward, flashed a shaka as he approached the crowd, asking, “;How are you?”;

He worked the crowd for a few minutes, saying hello and posing for pictures with at least four babies.

State, city and Hawaiian Electric Co. officials offered assistance to the Obamas during Friday night's outage.

Lingle, who was monitoring events from state Civil Defense headquarters at Diamond Head Crater, said she was in contact with police officers at Obama's rental home and “;we stayed until we were certain he was taken care of.”;

Hannemann said three generators had been installed earlier for Obama's rented compound. A fourth generator sent by Hawaiian Electric Co. was turned away, he said.

Hannemann said he contacted Obama earlier in the evening through Honolulu police.

“;He replied he didn't need anything, was grateful for our offer and was going to put his family to bed,”; said Hannemann, who did not talk with Obama directly.

Transition officials would not confirm whether generators had been installed, but an aide said no generators were used and that the Obamas spent the evening in the dark.

“;The Obama family is grateful for the offers of assistance from local officials,”; Obama transition team spokesman Ben LaBolt said in an e-mailed statement.

Obama aides initially would not say exactly when power was lost and restored. They have declined to discuss specific preparations for the president-elect's 12-day visit, citing security concerns.