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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 26, 2005

Clintons enjoying Kaua'i's food, trails

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

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LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Former President Bill Clinton and his family will end a casual Kaua'i vacation today, after some hiking, golfing, shopping and eating out — just like other tourists.

Clinton is accompanied by his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and daughter Chelsea, along with a cadre of U.S. Secret Service personnel.

"They've been doing the things most vacationers do," said Al Joaquin, special agent in charge at the Secret Service office in Honolulu.

The family has been staying at a private luxury home in Ha'ena. They've been reported hiking on the Hanakapi'ai portion of the Kalalau Trail. Clinton has golfed at Princeville with Hanalei resident and actor Pierce Brosnan. The family has shopped and dined in local restaurants.

Thames Goodwin, who with wife Jhoane owns the Polynesia Cafe in Ching Young Village Shopping Center in Hanalei, said the family ate breakfast there Tuesday. In Hanalei, where the famous are pretty much commonplace, it was no particular big deal.

"We get most of the movie stars," Goodwin said. "It's a very casual sidewalk cafe environment — gourmet food on paper plates."

They browsed through several Hanalei stores.

"They were delightful," said Nancy Young, a senior art consultant at Kahn Galleries in the Hanalei Center.

At the Hanalei Gourmet, the former president picked up a deli sandwich for lunch, while the women in the party enjoyed a restaurant appetizer specialty: deep-fried crispy artichoke hearts, said owner Tim Kerlin.

The elder Clintons have both visited Kaua'i before. The former president made headlines on Kaua'i when he stumped for Democratic governor candidate Mazie Hirono in 2002. Sen. Clinton visited the island as first lady in 1993.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.