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Obama Family, Friends Attend Service For Grandmother

POSTED: 8:06 pm HST December 23, 2008
UPDATED: 8:07 pm HST December 23, 2008

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Obama Family, Friends Attend Service For Grandmother

Memorial For Dunham Held At Nuuanu Church

POSTED: 4:19 pm HST December 23, 2008
UPDATED: 8:11 pm HST December 23, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama along with his family and friends attended a private service in Nuuanu on Tuesday afternoon for his grandmother.

The president-elect's day began with an early workout at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe.

Retired Marine Col. Gene Castignetti uses that same gym every day and shared a workout with Obama several days ago.

"He's in good shape on that treadmill. He worked out for about 20-25 minutes then went over and did some exercises sit-ups and so forth, and walked up and talked to Marines, both men and female, and male Marines. No one really bothered him as he did his workout, which was nice. They respected his space," Castignetti said.

At 2 p.m., Obama's motorcade arrived at the Unitarian Church just off the Pali Highway in Nuuanu. Obama and his wife and daughters paused at the entrance of the church to greet family and friends.

A small group attended the memorial for Obama's grandmother Madelyn Dunham, who died Nov. 2, just two days before he was elected.

There were a lot of police and Secret Service agents around the church. Inside, the service lasted about 40 minutes. The song Wind Beneath My Wings could be heard.

Neighbors were surprised and excited to get an up close look at the president-elect and his family.

"I saw Mr. Obama, and I never saw a president before so I was excited to see him," Nuuanu resident Mikayla Mau said.

"I saw a couple of family members of him, and him. It was exciting," Nuuanu resident Shannah Mau said.

After the memorial service, the Obama family drove out Kalanianaole Highway to scatter his grandmother's ashes in the ocean.


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