President-elect Barack Obama and family are saying aloha to Hawaii today, ending a 12-day secluded vacation in his native state to prepare for more serious matters.

This weekend, the incoming first family will move into an exclusive hotel just yards from the White House so daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, can begin classes Monday at the private Sidwell Friends School. The Obamas will stay at the hotel until they move into the White House on Jan. 20.

Obama usually spends the Christmas holidays in Hawaii with the exception of last year, when he was busy campaigning. This was his third trip to Hawaii in 2008.

Obama last came to Hawaii in October for a solemn visit with his ill grandmother Madelyn Dunham who died two days before Obama was elected.

On his last full day of vacation, Obama started with his usual routine, a work out at the Semper Fit Center at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. And that was it.

Before leaving the Marine base, Obama spent a few minutes greeting about 75 people who showed up at the gym hoping to see him. He posed for a picture with 9-month-old Peyton Highfill, the son of Marine Travis Highfill.

He spent New Year's Eve, like most days and evenings, behind the security of his rented vacation home. Obama arrived from Chicago on Dec. 20 with his wife and two daughters, four aides and his Secret Service detail.

While the Obamas planned a quiet vacation, there were a few surprises. Photos of Obama became the talk of the Internet after a photographer snapped a shot of a shirtless Obama at the vacation home. Obama's compound was also left in the dark for several hours along with the rest of the island during the blackout on Friday.

There were no public appearances other than shaking hands with Marines on Christmas Day.

At his last vacation, just before the Democratic National Convention in August, Obama gave a speech before thousands of supporters at Keehi Lagoon Park, and spectators spotted him walking on the beach and bodysurfing at Sandy Beach.

Aside from his daily workout, Obama made only a handful of excursions off the closely guarded luxury rental in Kailua.

He attended a private memorial service in Nuuanu for his late grandmother and scattered her ashes off Lanai Lookout, near Sandy Beach, on his third full day.

The day the Oahu blackout hit, Obama visited Sea Life Park Hawaii with his two daughters, then made a trip to Koko Marina Center in Hawaii Kai to order a tuna sandwich and shave ice with the kids.

He partied for nearly seven hours Sunday at the Mokuleia home of high school friend Bobby Titcomb. He was accompanied by his wife and two daughters and friends from Chicago, Eric Whitaker and Martin Nesbitt.

He golfed three times, once at Olomana Golf Links in Waimanalo and twice at the Mid-Pacific Country Club in Lanikai, the last time on Monday.

He struggled with his game, telling spectators that he played terribly and asking patrons for tips.

One spectator joked that his golf game was better than his bowling, a reference to an embarrassing campaign appearance in Pennsylvania when he knocked down only 37 pins.

The Obamas preferred meals at home and made only one trip for a sit-down dinner at Alan Wong's Restaurant on Monday night. He also ate there in August.

On Tuesday he played basketball at Punahou School with high school friends, visited tiger cubs with his daughters at the Honolulu Zoo and made a stop at the Makiki apartment of his late grandmother.

The Obamas leave for Chicago sometime this afternoon.