Their O'ahu vacation over, the Obama 'ohana returns to work next week. The president-elect will trade in his board shorts and bare chest for a suit and tie. He and Michelle Obama will prepare their two girls for their first day at their new school in Washington, D.C.

And while the Obamas now will most likely spend most of their time between Chicago and Washington, their 12-day vacation reminded us once again that they remain a kama'aina family, quietly enjoying those small pleasures local folks miss when they're away from home.

"Shaved ices," for instance. "Local seaweed-wrapped delicacy" (Spam musubi). "Local surfing gesture" (shaka).

For Mainland media covering the Obama family vacation, describing their ordinary holiday activities was often a challenge.

But no matter. It was our unique pleasure to welcome the future First Family, not as tourists, but as local folks returning home, even if temporarily. And their more-or-less normal family activities — the beach, the zoo, shopping malls, visits with relatives and longtime friends — suffused in Hawai'i's calming aloha spirit, made it easier to claim them as one of our own, a reflection of how we ourselves live.

Let's hope that next Christmas, the Obamas will be back. Given the outlook for the coming year, they'll probably be ready to take in another low-stress vacation, with friends, family and our unique island lifestyle.