HONOLULU (AP) — President Barack Obama and his family spent a warm and sunny afternoon at one of the most popular snorkeling spots on the island of Oahu, where they released four green sea turtles into the water.

The Obamas arrived at Hanauma Bay on Tuesday after a scenic, 40-minute drive from their multimillion-dollar rented vacation home on Kailua Beach. During their two hours at the bay, the Obamas released four green sea turtles raised in captivity into the clear blue water.

Hanauma Bay is a favorite destination for the Obamas during their annual Christmas trips to Hawaii. The first family always goes to the popular spot on Tuesdays, when it is closed to the public for maintenance.

The president has stayed largely out of the spotlight since arriving Friday evening in Hawaii, the state where he was born and mostly raised. He spent a low-key holiday with his family, attended Christmas church services and visited service members stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, near Honolulu.

Obama also has hit the golf course, worked out at the gym on the Marine base and taken wife Michelle Obama out to dinner.

Behind the scenes, the president is being briefed by a small cadre of traveling staff on domestic and international developments, including his administration’s debate over whether to allow Yemen’s outgoing leader to come to the U.S. for medical treatment. Obama also announced two nominees to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors on Tuesday.

Obama has no public events planned during his vacation, which is expected to last until shortly after New Year’s Day.

___

Associated Press writer Audrey McAvoy contributed to this report.