Washington, Dec 26 : Before taking over as President of United States, Barack Obama has been enjoying his vacation in Hawaii to "recharge his batteries."

Obama returned to his former home on December 20 for a 13-day holiday vacation along with his family and friends, reports the Washington Post.

The 47-year-old has been unusually private at the start of Christmas vacation, in the process providing an early glimpse of what any tropical getaways as president may be like.

The president-elect''s only public remark since he arrived was to wish a few dozen locals "Mele Kalikimaka," the Hawaiian translation for "Merry Christmas."

"People recognize that he came to Hawaii to rest and enjoy the holidays," said Charles J. Ogletree, a professor at Harvard Law School and close friend of the Obamas.

"For the girls and Barack and Michelle, it was the right thing to do. Each time Barack Obama visits Hawaii, you could see the pressure released from his body," Ogletree said.

Some locals said they understood why Obama has made the trip a quiet one.

"Now that he''s president-elect, there are very weighty matters to deal with," said John Monahan, president of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.

"It''s important that we all take the time to recuperate, and I think that''s what he''s doing. He''s recharging the batteries," Monahan added.

While on the trip, Obama is traveling with a circle of longtime friends from Chicago, who will form his kitchen cabinet, and their families.

Valerie Jarrett, who will become a White House senior adviser, is planning to arrive soon. (ANI)