Obama Kicks Off 2015 With Snorkeling, Shave Ice

President Barack Obama eats shave ice with his daughter Malia and friends of the family, at Island Snow on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in Kailua, Hawaii, during the Obama family's vacation

HONOLULU (AP) — President Barack Obama is kicking off the new year Hawaiian-style.

Obama started Thursday snorkeling with his wife and daughters at a popular snorkeling spot outside of Honolulu, Hanauma Bay. They spent more than four hours at the site, which was closed to the public. The Obamas visit nearly every year. Later, the family stopped in nearby Kailua for shave ice. It's a Hawaiian treat similar to a snow cone. In casual clothes, Obama ordered a shave ice with melon, cherry and lilikoi syrup. Lilikoi is a Hawaiian term for passion fruit.

Obama wished his fellow customers a "Happy New Year" before heading back to his rented vacation home. The Obamas finished the day by dining with friends at Vintage Cave in Waikiki. It's one of Honolulu's most exclusive restaurants where the average meal takes three hours.

His annual two-week vacation in Hawaii wraps up this weekend.

Heidi Chang in Kailua, Hawaii, contributed to this report.