Presidential-Style Vacation at Citizen Prices

KAILUA, Hawaii, Jan. 12, 2009 — -- President-elect Barack Obama and his family brought international attention to Kailua, Hawaii, with two vacations to the small town last year.

During the Christmas holiday, the future first family enjoyed a sprawling three-house compound, complete with several swimming pools and jacuzzis. The beachfront property is valued at more than $30 million.

The compound sits at the edge of Kailua beach. The two-and-half-mile stretch of white sand and clear blue water is consistently ranked as one of the best in the world.

"It's a home fit for a king," said Dave Zimel, whose company owns two of the homes. "There is a lot of rich tradition of kings spending time on Kailua beach. This was a place where royalty actually gathered."

There are no high-rise hotels on the beach or in town, but travelers without a royal budget can still stay here.

Kailua has a handful of bed and breakfast rentals, most priced between $125 and $225 per night.

Beach houses are also available, but require a minimum one-month stay and start around $750 per night. Some of the more lavish homes can reach into $5,000-per-night range.

The beach is a 30-minute drive and world away from the heavily touristed Waikiki beach, where hotels clutter the shoreline and tourists lay side-by-side, often crammed at the water's edge.

Located on Oahu's windward coast, a steady breeze makes Kailua beach ideal for wind and kite surfing. The water can be a bit rougher than other swimming areas on the island -- though that can make for good body surfing for those seeking adventure.