by Andrew Walden

While President Barack Obama enjoys a high profile vacation on Oahu, "progressive" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is being allowed to stay out of the limelight while luxuriating at the Four Seasons Hualalai resort on the Big Island. 

Guarded by US Capitol Police bolstered by officers on loan from the Hawaii County PD, Pelosi is enjoying what Hollywood Reporter calls: "...a picture-perfect stretch of beach on the Big Island's chic Kona Coast....a private Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and Pahu'ia, an award-winning oceanfront restaurant, $40 million worth of enhancements...20 new suites and ... its lauded Hualalai Spa."

According to the Hualalai Spa website, Pelosi may, "Enjoy complimentary pre-treatment rituals, relaxing by a quiet stream in the open-air Waiea, or Water of Life, garden. Or savour the lap pool, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms and cold plunges, all set amidst lush greenery. (Pelosi's) choice of skin-care and massage treatments may be enjoyed outdoors in our exotic new hales, secluded for privacy.... With the guidance of (her) spa therapist, (Pelosi may) choose from more than 20 local natural ingredients – from Hawaiian sea salt to crushed macadamia nuts – which are custom-blended to create unique personalized treatments."

It is not clear how Pelosi arrived on the Big Isle.  Her controversial military transport is not immediately visible amidst the forest of private jets which now crowd Kona's Keahole Airport South Tarmac.  Hawaii County is hard hit by shrinking tax receipts caused by the Obama recession, but Hawaii County Police department spokesperson Chris Loos states that the department was able to aid Pelosi's security detail without canceling other scheduled enforcement activities.  Loos did not provide an estimate of the expense incurred by the County PD.       

A FOIA request by political watchdog group Judicial Watch last March exposed Pelosi treating the US Air Force "like her personal airline".  FOX News March 10 pointed out:  

In one email (Pelosi) aide Kay King complained to the military that they had not made available any aircraft the House speaker wanted for Memorial Day recess. 

"It is my understanding there are NO G5s available for the House during the Memorial Day recess. This is totally unacceptable ... The Speaker will want to know where the planes are," King wrote.

The one-way flight from San Francisco to the Big Isle is 2400 miles, within the range of both the C-20 (Gulfstream III) and the C-37A (Gulfstream V) but only the C-37A could safely make the 4500 mile one-way trip from Washington, DC nonstop.

Akamai readers will of course remember how Pelosi's Congress last fall berated Detroit auto executives for flying corporate jets from Detroit to Washington to appear before Congress requesting Federal bailouts.  The big three execs were forced to return to Washington a week later by car in order to get a hearing.  Not Pelosi or her ultra-rich "in-group".  

Pelosi's visit has not been noted in local or national media.  This contrasts strikingly to the treatment meted out to another high profile Hawaii vacationer--Sarah Palin.  While attempting to relax at a resort on Maui December 16 and 17, Palin, husband Todd and their children found themselves hounded by paparazzi hungry for photo bounties offered by the pro-Obama Hollywood gossip website TMZ.com.  Finally they were forced to leave.  Palin told Politico: "Todd and I have since cut our vacation short because the incognito attempts didn't work and fellow vacationers were bothered for the two days we spent in the sun."  Palin was obligated to issue an apology for wearing a visor with the McCain campaign logo covered.  Said Palin: "So much for going incognito." 

The contrast between the reverential privacy granted Pelosi and the petty harassment aimed at both Palin and the Detroit auto execs is an element of the ongoing decades-long campaign of politically correct thought reform aimed at American elites.  The message is simple:  Toe the line or be hounded out of our circles.

Apparently some people never left high school.

---30--- 

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Click here to read the full report from Judicial Watch

Hawaii Reporter quotes Pelosi staff: "The Speaker traveled to Hawaii at her own expense on commercial air."

HR: Local Police Escorts for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Cost Hawaii County More Than $21,000

WHT: Pelosi in $10,000/night Presidential Suite

Honolulu Advertiser plays catch-up: House Speaker Pelosi vacationing on the Big Island

Maui News Jan 16: Hotel manager: Pushy photographers forced Palins to cut trip short  (lots of details of paparazzi harassment of the Palins)