lawmakers say it s another way to reunite families. so does this add up? reporter: it s a tropical paradise, with the nation s second rate of homelessness after only washington, d.c. hawaii is a premier place to be if you re homeless. we have a robust public assistance program. reporter: lawmakers have approved a controversial plan. we re going to send them back to their family, a strong support network system where they can get back on their feet. and third, we re going to save our taxpayers a significant amount of money. reporter: they say the pilot program is voluntary and will only rolo kate people who have someone to help them back home. still hawaii s department of human services says we remain concerned this program is an invitation to purchase a one-way ticket to hawaii.
the first lady and the first family spending the christmas holiday in hawaii again. but this vacation looks much different than last year s. our ed henry has been covering the president s christmas trip back in 2009. a difficult assignment, of course, back then. ed was forced to sit on the beach for hours slathering on suntan lotion. this time around, though, things are a bit different in hawaii. here s why. reporter: john and kiran, president obama s hawaiian vacation has been delayed by all that action on capitol hill, but we expect later this week he ll join his wife and two daughters who are already there behind me in the vacation rental. and he s going to find out this beach is going to be even more quiet because it s been raining for days now. and forecasters say it s probably going to rain until thursday or friday. that s why there s just a couple of lone surfers out there braving the waters. the bottom line, people on the beach are telling me they have all kinds of advice abo
in hawaii? advice for other vacationers still ahead 45 minutes past the hour. an t fill every room every day. like this one. and this one. and oops, my bad. so, they give expedia ginormous discounts with these: unpublished rates. which means i get an even more rockin hotel, for less. my brain didn t even break a sweat. where you book matters. expedia. thank yofor caing us primyou haem. my name is peggy. for someone toicup u re tenacious like bu. i like. please hold.
to work. reporter: before the president can reunite with his family here on oahu, he has to sign the repeal of don t ask, don t tell into law. and he s waiting in washington to see if the senate ratifies the new s.t.a.r.t. treaty. he s hoping to get here wednesday night or thursday the latest and hopefully the sun will return, as well. john, kiran? even if the sun s not shining in hawaii, it s almost like liquid sunshine, right? still hawaii. and they ve got time to clear up for christmas. they ll probably get a beautiful week next week. well, we just told you about operation santa. we had the wrong address and we want to be sure to get it right. if you want to help you go to usps.com/holidaynewsroom all one word then you can click on the letters for santa icon and fulfill these letters until the 23rd at 7:00 p.m. top stories are coming your way after a quick break. don t go away.