The Obamas arrive today in Hawai'i for a few days vacation, but these Obamas are flying in from Japan and don't live in the White House.

Hawai'i Tourism Japan officials said a tour coordinated by China Airlines is bringing in 11 people with the surname Obama — plus four of their friends — to visit O'ahu this week. The group plans to tour some of the landmarks from the life of Barack Obama, whose name they share.

The Obama-san visitors are scheduled to arrive in Honolulu from Narita and depart Tuesday.

During the visit, the group will see some of the spots frequented by President Obama in both childhood and in more recent adult family vacations.

They include Punahou School, where he attended grades 5 through 12, scenic Tantalus where he picnicked as a child and the Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop where he worked in high school.

The Hawai'i-born president spent 14 of his first 18 years in the Islands, before heading off to college. He has returned for family vacations nearly every year, visiting with his late grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who died the day before his election.

The Japan Obamas' trip is scheduled to include a plate-lunch stop at Rainbow Drive-In on Kapahulu Avenue as well as a visit to nearby Waiola Shave Ice. The president usually treats his daughters to shave ice as part of their family vacations here.

The group plans a trip to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, where the president's grandfather's remains are inurned. And like most good tourists, they plan some shopping at a place where they sell Obama T-shirts.

How did China Airlines find these Obamas?

Airline staffers searched phone books and databases and targeted people with the last name Obama through direct mail promotions about the package.

The airline and other travel folks pitch these special themes to travelers — especially in difficult economic downturns like this one. Another recent special tied to 50 years of Hawai'i statehood offered discounts for people 50 years and older.

Smaller travel companies in Japan have created tours that target bird watching, stargazing and other hobbies. Some Japan packages target women traveling by themselves and seeking short breaks from work to rejuvenate themselves. Those include stops at spas, shopping, restaurants and museums.

"Theme tourism is extremely popular in Japan, and Hawai'i Tourism Japan worked with China Airlines to develop a special tour that capitalizes on the popularity of President Obama," said David Uchiyama of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority.

There's no word on when that other Obama party will return.