Images of Hawai'i's clear skies, blue waters and verdant cliffs were being beamed to a snow-bound Mainland audience even before President Obama touches down in his hometown today for an expected 10-day Christmas vacation.

On the eve of the first family's arrival, tourism officials yesterday said Mainland news coverage of the Islands that's already begun for Obama's visit is priceless at a time when Hawai'i's No. 1 industry is struggling and potential Mainland visitors can only dream of warm weather and white, sandy beaches.

Simply put, said Marsha Wienert, Hawai'i's tourism liaison, the timing of Obama's visit is "perfect,"

"The amount of publicity that will be generated from Hawai'i during the president's stay — you can't buy that kind of publicity," Wienert said. "When you are sitting in 2 feet of snow in the East Coast and you see the president and his family on the beach or eating shave ice in shorts and slippers, it puts the desire in everyone's mind to think of coming to Hawai'i, especially now."

Waves of 30 to 40 feet are also forecast for Christmas Day along O'ahu's North Shore, which should generate even more breathtaking images around the world.

"Christmas Day is the peak of the event," said Steve Harrison of the National Weather Service.

And various ESPN channels this week also have been showing flattering images of hula dancers and pristine beaches during their coverage of the inaugural Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic basketball tournament at the University of Hawai'i's Stan Sheriff Center.

Wienert and other travel officials don't expect throngs of Mainland tourists to suddenly jump on airplanes during a nationwide recession after seeing images of the president traveling around O'ahu.

But they're likely to remember the gorgeous scenery of the Islands later in 2010 when the economy is forecast to improve and tourists may be more willing to spend money to travel across a continent and an ocean to get here.

"It all starts with the dream," Wienert said. "Hopefully it puts that desire in them. So once they feel comfortable with the economy, the first choice they make is the islands here in Hawai'i."

Traffic to the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau's Web site jumped immediately after word leaked last month that the president would return home for the holidays, said HVCB spokeswoman Darlene Morikawa.

And the number of Web site visitors more than doubled over the past few days when the HVCB set up a micro site focused on Obama's ties to the Islands.

"The national spotlight is on Hawai'i during this time," Morikawa said. "The coverage is priceless to Hawai'i. We're fortunate to have national shows airing live coverage of things to do in Hawai'i while the Mainland is snow-bound."

Many Kailua neighbors around the five-bedroom, beachfront estate where the Obama family is expected to stay are happy to have them visit again following a similar Christmas visit last year, when Obama was president-elect.

But now that he is leader of the free world, security appears even tighter for this visit.

Tourists could drive unencumbered up and down Kailuana Place last year. But yesterday, Secret Service agents had erected concrete barricades at the entrance to Kailuana Place at North Kaläheo Avenue. And sawhorses with "no parking" signs dot the neighborhood.

"We feel blessed to be living where the president wants to vacation. We welcome him," said neighbor Chris Brigham.

But Scott Larue said in an e-mail that Obama's vacation affects his out-of-town visitors trying to enjoy their own Hawai'i holiday.

"I have family in town from the Mainland and have one week vacation with them to enjoy our backyard, the canal and the ocean in front of our home," Larue wrote. "The canal and ocean will be closed to all boat and kayak traffic for the duration of the Obama visit. The canal allows our community and neighboring communities access to the ocean for fishing, diving and family boating which we will not be able to enjoy during his stay. ... The cost to the taxpayer and inconvenience to the neighborhood could be avoided if he joined his troops on the (nearby Marine Corps) base or stayed at Camp David like his predecessors."