U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, his wife, Michelle, their two daughters and family friends ended their weeklong Hawai'i vacation this morning.

Several neighbors came outside to wave goodbye as the Obama motorcade left his Kailua vacation rental at about 9:25 a.m.

As the motorcade approached a private hangar and Obama's campaign airplane at Honolulu International Airport, one woman held up a makeshift cardboard sign that read: "Shaka Baracka." The motorcade arrived at the private hangar at about 9:55 a.m.

With handshakes and hugs, Obama and his wife said goodbye to Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and his wife, Gail, before boarding the campaign plane just after 10 a.m.

Obama, who was born in Hawai'i, graduated from the private Punahou School, and typically returns around the Christmas holidays each year to visit his grandmother and sister, had not visited since December 2006 because of his campaign schedule.

He appeared at a public rally last Friday afternoon at Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park and at a private fundraiser at Kahala Hotel & Resort Tuesday night that raised an estimated $1.3 million for his campaign.