Palm trees are reflected in President Barack Obama's motorcade vehicle as he is driven through the Kailua, Hawaii, neighborhood where he is spending his annual holiday vacation with his family, en route to Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe, Hawaii, to play golf.HONOLULU - It doesn't matter that they belong to President Barack Obama - first family dogs Bo and Sunny had to go through Hawaii's strict quarantine procedures to travel to the islands for their holiday vacation.
Hawaii is rabies free and all incoming dogs have to jump through several hoops, including an expensive rabies blood test and 120-day waiting period. Dogs that don't meet regulations are quarantined up to 120 days.
Program Manager Isaac Maeda of Hawaii's Rabies Quarantine Branch said Monday that the Obamas complied with all requirements asked of other pet owners.
The only difference: Maeda says a military veterinarian inspected the dogs and their paperwork on arrival at Hickam Air Force Base early Dec. 21. Other pet owners usually go through a quarantine office at Honolulu International Airport.