Amid the rising sounds of New Year's Eve pyrotechnics — predominantly illegal — President Barack Obama spent five hours on the golf course yesterday afternoon after taking his family to a private showing of the movie “;Avatar”; in 3-D.

Obama was safely ensconced back at his Kailua beachfront rental estate by 6:40 p.m., according to an accompanying reporter representing all news outlets.

At Mid-Pacific Country Club in Lanikai, the president played golf with friends Greg Orme, Bobby Titcomb and Mike Ramos—and although he missed the final putt on the 18th hole, a big cheer went up from the bystanders on the road leading to the club.

The leisurely holoholo outing capped a day that began as usual with a workout at the Semper Fit gym at Marine Corps Base Hawaii just after 7 a.m.

Obama then returned to the family's Kailua vacation compound, and just after 9 a.m. the presidential motorcade left Kailua for the 15-minute trip to Windward Mall in Kaneohe.

The president and his entourage had a theater all to themselves to watch the hit movie “;Avatar”; by director James Cameron. However, the other nine theaters at the mall were open to the public.

Besides the first family, a group of Obama's friends attended the movie, including Eric Whitaker and Marty Nesbitt, and more than six children.

The president left the mall at about 12:30 p.m. wearing sunglasses, a dark blue short-sleeve shirt, brown slacks and a BlackBerry on his belt. He was accompanied by daughters Malia and Sasha, but first lady Michelle Obama did not appear to be with them.

A light cheer went up from the crowd of onlookers in the parking lot, and the president waved at them.

The presidential motorcade returned to the compound at 12:51 p.m., but Obama left soon afterward for his afternoon golf game under gray clouds that parted for an occasional ray of sunshine. Winds were gusty.

Associated Press photos showed a relaxed-looking Obama smiling and using a little body English on the golf course. He left the links at 6:33 p.m.

Obama was expected to spend part of last evening working on his preliminary intelligence review in the wake of the Christmas Day terrorism plot involving a plane bound for Detroit.

The first family has been in Hawaii for a week and is scheduled to leave early next week.