Obama worships, visits Marines on Christmas Day

HONOLULU: President Barack Obama and his family went to church in Hawaii and visited US Marines and their families to celebrate Christmas Day on Sunday, during his vacation in his native state of Hawaii.Obama, his wife Michelle and daughters Malia, 13, and Sasha, 10, went to the chapel at Kaneohe Marine base after singing carols and opening their presents at the vacation residence they are renting.Later, the president and First Lady returned to the base to visit Marines and their families. Obama greeted the group with a hearty 'Merry Christmas' and 'Mele Kalikimakas' the same sentiment in the Hawaiian language.Obama held babies, including one little tot who put his hand in the president s mouth and tweaked his nose, and chatted to marines and their wives.The White House said that Obama also made 10 telephone calls to service members from the Marines, Air Force, Navy and US Army who are serving overseas, on Christmas Eve.In a Christmas message, the president and his wife on Saturday thanked all US troops and their families for their service to the United States.