House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s 9-day Hawaiian vacation overlaps the president’s

by Malia Zimmerman, Watchdog.org, December 31, 2013 

KAILUA, Hawaii – The First Family, First Dogs in tow, arrived in Hawaii at midnight December 21, for a 17-day vacation in a private beachfront home in Kailua, Oahu.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi had her own Hawaiian vacation this month, which overlapped the president’s by one day.

The Hawaii Police Department provided nine days of security detail for Pelosi during her stay on on Hawaii Island, Dec. 15 through Dec. 22, according to Hawaii Police Department Assistant Chief Marshall Kanehailua.

The estimated police overtime cost for local taxpayers was $22,873.04, Kanehailua said.

Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill would not confirm Pelosi visited Hawaii, saying only, ”Leader Pelosi is in San Francisco and has no public schedule this week.”

Regarding police protection, Hamill said, “While we do not comment on security matters, I can tell you that the House Sergeant at Arms provides security for congressional leaders.”

Kanehailua said the HPD has provided security detail for Pelosi several times over the years.

As noted in prior reports, Pelosi typically spends Christmas and New Year’s vacation at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, one of Hawaii’s most exclusive, remote and pricey resorts. The daily West Hawaii Today has reported that Pelosi secures the Four Season’s Presidential Suite, which rents for as much as $10,000 per night.

Pelosi has traveled on military Gulfstream jets in the past courtesy of the taxpayers, as this CBS report details, but her spokesperson said she flew on a commercial airline. “Leader Pelosi travels on commercial aircraft.”

The First Family travels to Hawaii via Air Force One, with a number of other military aircraft involved in the transportation of the president’s helicopter and limousine.

The president’s Hawaiian vacation costs taxpayers more than $4 million, according to an analysis by Watchdog.org and Hawaii Reporter.

That cost includes police escorts for the president on Oahu. That service, provided by the Honolulu Police Department, typically costs local taxpayers about $250,000 plus $10,000 for an ambulance and crew on call around the clock until the president departs.

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