Buzz is building that President Obama and his family will be vacationing in Hawaii during the holidays, but so far no plans have been announced.

During a July luau at the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama told Cha Thompson of Tihati Productions, whose entertainers performed at the event, that the first family was planning to return to the Islands in December.

Barack Obama was born here and graduated from Punahou School. He visited Hawaii three times last year, but never as president.

The White House said "no comment" when asked this week about a possible Obama visit.

Staff members at Hawaii Congressional offices in Washington, D.C., said they had not received any information confirming a Hawaii visit by Obama, and officials at Punahou School, where he played basketball last December, said they had not been contacted about a return trip, although there has been talk of a visit.

University of Hawaii anthropology professor emeritus and Obama family friend Alice Dewey said she, too, was told by a mutual acquaintance and others that the president and his family would be coming to Hawaii next month, but no details were provided.

"Various people have said that sometime in December they probably are coming back and will see old friends," she said.

In August 2008, the Obamas enjoyed a weeklong family vacation, and as a candidate, Obama made a quick trip in October 2008 to see his ailing grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who died Nov. 2.

On Dec. 20, the family arrived for a 12-day vacation, staying at a beachfront home in Kailua.