The Mirror

Michelle Obama spending extended vacation at Oprah’s Maui home

Betsy Rothstein Gossip blogger
Font Size:

Michelle Obama is spending her extended Hawaiian vacation at Oprah’s “exquisite” Maui getaway, The Daily Caller has learned.

While White House pool reports indicate the first lady stayed behind this week in Hawaii to chill out with friends before her 50th birthday, there weren’t many specifics. But sources with direct knowledge tell TheDC that the first lady is relaxing in Maui at Oprah’s estate with CBS’ Gayle King, Valerie Jarrett and Sharon Malone, who is Attorney General Eric Holder’s wife.

Sources say she’s there for a “girl’s getaway” before the big 5-0.

“Yesterday we saw bomb sniffing dogs and Maui police in the bushes,” Heather Long, the manager of nearby Grandma’s Coffeehouse, told TheDC. “We’re very close to Oprah’s property. They’ll probably walk up and down the road.”

Oprah frequents the coffee shop, said Long. “We try not to make it a big deal. We try to treat her like she’s another customer. I would die if I saw the first lady.”

Oprah’s home, described as “an ordinary little gray ranch” has been transformed into “the perfect” 21st century farmhouse.  The residence is located in a remote up-country region where the houses there face the ocean. The house has reportedly undergone dramatic renovations since Oprah purchased it. Horses surround the ranch.

In a story for Oprah.com, Oprah says this about her Hawaiian house. “I love, love, love my house,” she says. “It’s a gem, so sweet and exquisite. Such a real, normal house. It feels like a nice blanket. A lovely and soft cashmere one.”

To be sure, the house needed a lot of work to meet Oprah’s opulent standards.

“Architectural designer Jeff Wooley, of John B. Murray Architect, rejiggered the quirky floor plan to create less-angular rooms and then, with the help of T.M.C. General Contracting Inc. and a team of craftsmen, stripped the house to its basic structure, moved the staircase, raised the ceiling of the master bedroom, installed French doors throughout, and wrapped the whole with a wonderfully wide veranda—a great place to sit and soak up the sweeping view,” reports the story. “The generous wraparound porch looks as if it’s been part of the house forever. The outdoor furniture from Weatherend matches the railing’s simple lines.”

President Obama and the couple’s two daughters, Sasha and Malia, arrived home in Washington Sunday while the first lady remains in Hawaii.

From three different pool reports:

“The First Lady is still in Hawaii.”

“As noted earlier, First Lady Michelle Obama is remaining in Hawaii for a few extra days to spend time with friends ahead of her birthday. She will be 50 on Jan. 17.”

“The First Lady is staying in Hawaii, according to the following guidance from the White House: The President and the Obama daughters will leave Honolulu on January 4 and return to Washington early on January 5. As part of her birthday gift from the President, the First Lady will remain in Hawaii to spend time with friends ahead of her upcoming 50th birthday.”

We reached out to the White House for comment on the first lady’s current excursion.