The incoming commander in chief has spent nearly every morning of his Hawai'i vacation working out in the same gym as U.S. Marines and sailors — and the message isn't lost on military veterans.

During two earlier trips home to O'ahu this year, Barack Obama was a presidential candidate and had no public appearances that involved greeting service members.

But, as he prepares to take the oath of office on Jan. 20, the president-elect is connecting with military members in Hawai'i, said Jerry Coffee, a retired Navy captain who lives in 'Aiea Heights.

Coffee stumped for Obama's Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain. He shared a bond with McCain: The two men were prisoners of war together in Vietnamese prison camps, including the notorious "Hanoi Hilton."

But Coffee and other veterans are thrilled that Obama is spending so much time shaking hands with Marines and sailors and their families, and posing for pictures before and after his workouts at the Semper Fit Center at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, which is almost next door to Obama's beachside vacation compound in Kailua.

"He's sending an important message about taking seriously all aspects of his role as commander in chief," Coffee said. "It's encouraging. I like to see him making himself available to our troops."

On Dec. 21, his first morning on this Hawai'i trip, a sweaty Obama emerged from the gym and offered a quick salute to a couple of Marines in uniform standing nearby. He has returned to the base almost every day since.

During a weeklong family vacation in August, Obama jogged along Kailua Beach, worked out one day at the 24-Hour Fitness in Kane'ohe and played pickup basketball at his alma mater, Punahou School, where he was a member of the state championship basketball team.

In October, during an impromptu trip to visit his ailing grandmother, Obama kept mostly to himself.

But on this vacation, word quickly spread around Marine Corps Base Hawaii that Obama shows up almost every day between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m., said Vanessa Letcher, who lives on base with her husband, Navy Lt. Matt Letcher, who flies P-3 airplanes.

Secret Service agents in aloha shirts arrive early and start searching people in the area, Vanessa Letcher said, and then the crowd seems to grow with each passing minute.

Letcher prefers to get her exercise by running outdoors. But on Christmas Eve, she gave up her usual routine to work out on a treadmill inside the Semper Fit Center, as Obama exercised nearby on an elliptical trainer.

"It was fantastic," she said. "Definitely everyone's excited, whether they voted for him or not. It's a great thing to have him on base because he's going to be the commander in chief."

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

People in the gym tend to respect Obama's workouts but aren't shy otherwise about asking for photos or trying to shake his hand, Letcher said.

"He's very personable," she said.

Vanessa and Matt Letcher and their newborn had been selected to portray the Virgin Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus at Kailua United Methodist Church on Christmas Eve, so Vanessa invited Obama and his family to the service — and for Christmas dinner.

"He said, 'I appreciate the offer but I already have plans,' " Vanessa Letcher said.

Those plans included the Marines at Kane'ohe Bay. On Christmas Day, Obama spent about an hour shaking hands and posing for photos with more than 100 Marines and sailors gathered on base for a Christmas meal.

Obama entered Anderson Hall — where mostly single Marines and sailors had gathered for a meal of ham, turkey and mashed potatoes — and said, "I just wanted to say, 'Hi.' "

He moved between tables, and many of the Marines and sailors stood to greet him as he thanked them for their military service.

It was Obama's only outing of the day before returning to his family at their beachside compound for a Christmas meal of turkey and ham.

"He's been very gracious in his visits, and he's been welcomed very warmly," said Marine Maj. Alan Crouch, spokesman for Marine Corps Base Hawaii. "He's made it clear that he is not yet the commander in chief. But as the upcoming commander in chief and definitely a person of importance to the country, to the DOD (Department of Defense) and to the Marines, he is of course welcomed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii anytime."

Especially at the Semper Fit gym, Crouch said.

"We, the Marines, value physical training and appreciate the good example he sets for all of us," Crouch said.

NOTHING BAD TO SAY

Obama's interactions with the military also have impressed another Vietnam POW and McCain supporter, retired Navy Capt. Jim Hickerson, who lives near the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

Hickerson, after being released by his Vietnamese captors, met President Nixon at the White House. Later, he had several more encounters with Nixon, followed by several meetings with President Reagan.

As a member of the military, Hickerson said, it's always an honor to meet the commander in chief.

So for Obama to spend so much time with the military during his holiday vacation "is absolutely great," Hickerson said. "I'm not saying anything bad about it."