Former President Barack Obama spent Presidents’ Day weekend snorkeling and whale watching with his family in his native Hawaii, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show.
The 60-year-old was spotted with wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha Saturday as they embarked on a whale watching tour along the coastline of Maui.
The First Family was joined by friends and other spectators aboard a 53-foot double-decked tour boat from where they looked out for sea creatures and aquatic life on the crystal-clear waters of Ma’alaea Bay.
Donning swimsuits, sunglasses, and hats, the Obamas were in full vacation mode, enjoying life as a normal family, worlds away from the pressures of Washington they once faced.
Barack and Michelle Obama spent Presidents’ Day weekend on a whale watching tour with daughters Malia and Sasha and friends off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Maui
Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show the Obamas looking out for whales while sailing on a 53ft yacht on Ma’alaea Bay on Saturday
The Obamas were lucky enough to get a front row seat to the action, spotting a number of humpback whales during the tour
Malia, 23, who covered up in a beach dress and baseball cap, watched whales swim by alongside her father
The 44th president, dressed in swimming trunks and a baseball cap, had his camera ready for any whale sightings in the ocean. Daughter Sasha was also seen snapping pictures from the bow
The family was seen gathering at the bow of the vessel after a humpback whale was spotted just a few feet from the boat
The former first lady, who turned 58 last month, showed off her toned physique in a white one-piece bathing suit, while husband Barack wore dark swimming trunks, sunglasses and a baseball cap
Michelle, who turned 58 last month, basked in the warm Hawaii sun in a white one-piece bathing suit, while husband Barack wore dark swimming trunks and a green baseball cap.
Sasha, 20, matched her mother’s style in a white bikini and a white cap while older sister Malia, 23, covered up in a beach dress.
The family was accompanied by a tall young man resembling Malia’s boyfriend, Rory Farquharson.
The Obamas were lucky enough to get a front row seat during peak humpback whale season in Maui, spotting a number of sea mammals throughout the tour.
At one point they were seen huddling around the bow after a whale appeared just a few feet away from the vessel.
Obama, who has been spending quite a lot of time in his native state since leaving office in early 2017, seemed relaxed and in good spirits during the family outing
Obama lounging on the bow of the boat. The former president seemed happy to be back in his native state of Hawaii
The Obamas were joined by friends and other spectators aboard the Lani Kai II vessel for the whale watching tour
Michelle cooled off with a refreshing drink while sunbathing on the deck of the ship
The Obamas were lucky enough to get a front row seat to the show during peak humpback whale season in Maui, spotting a number of sea mammals throughout the tour
Younger daughter Sasha, 20, matched her mom’s style, wearing a white bikini and hat. The family looks overboard as a humpback whale swims under the vessel
The Obamas and other passengers watch as a humpback whale swim towards their boat on the Ma’alaea Bay
At the end of the tour, Obama was seen posing for pictures with the sailing crew
The former POTUS, flanked by Secret Service detail, waved to supporters while getting into his Suburban at the end of the trip
They looked every inch the classic American tourist family gawking and pointing their cameras as a humpback whale and her calf swam by.
The waters around Maui are a designated Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Malia Obama and British boyfriend Rory Farquharson in 2018
Scientists estimate that over 10,000 whales return to Maui between November and May to mate and give birth.
At the end of the tour, the president was seen posing for pictures with the sailing crew before debarking and loading up his Suburban with the help of his Secret Service detail.
The Obama family is known to make trips to the former president’s home state every year to get in some relaxation and visits with loved ones.
They were recently pictured in Hawaii over the holidays in December when the 44th POTUS was seen donning black swim trunks as he went for a dip in the Pacific Ocean.
His daughters Sasha and Malia were also caught on camera as they went out on the water on stand-up paddle boards, each wearing a bikini for the beach day.
The former commander-in-chief was later pictured getting in a round of golf with friends, though former first lady Michelle managed to avoid the cameras.
Obama, who was born in Honolulu, has spoken fondly of his home state telling National Geographic in 2016: ‘People always ask, why do I stay calm in the midst of a lot of crazy stuff going on.
‘Well, I always tell folks part of it’s being born in Hawaii and knowing what it’s like to jump into the ocean and understanding what it means when you see a sea turtle in the face of a wave.’
It’s unclear where, exactly, the Obamas are staying during their trip, though in the past they were known to stay at Paradise Point Estates, which they visited every year from 2008 to 2011 — giving it the nickname ‘The Winter White House.’
The private home has five bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, the extra space likely necessary during Obama’s White House years due to his Secret Service detail.
The Obama family is known to make trips to the former president’s home state every year to get in some relaxation and visits with loved ones
The Obamas were recently pictured in Hawaii during the holidays in December where the 44th POTUS was seen donning black swim trunks as he went for a dip in the Pacific Ocean
Sasha and Malia – who usually join their parents on their periodic trips to Hawaii, were also caught on camera as they went out on the water on stand-up paddle boards
The house is available for anyone to rent for $3,500 per night and has a lagoon-style pool, waterfalls, a spa pool, an outdoor wet bar, a master suite with therapeutic bath and steam shower, a kitchen with high-tech gadgets like a sub-zero refrigerator and freezer, and a fitness center.
The Obama daughters have generally shied away from the spotlight, particularly since their father left the White House in early 2017.
The two appear to have relocated to the West Coast after they were both spotted in Los Angeles last month.
Malia, who graduated from Harvard last spring and scored a position on the writing staff of a new Amazon project by Donald Glover, was spotted taking a smoke break outside of her job.
She had long shown an interest in filmmaking and interned on the set of Extant in high school and with The Weinstein Company in 2017.
Meanwhile younger sister Sasha was seen walking through LA – where she is reported to be finishing her college education, having transferred from the University of Michigan.
She completed her first few semesters at the Ann Arbor campus however, she appears to have made the decision to transfer at some point during the pandemic, though it is unclear if she did so for her sophomore year in 2020 or her junior year in 2021.
