The President and First Family are in town and that means some hapless reporters have agreed to be the press pool for the visit. This is where reporters ride in an official press van in the motorcade or close behind and then wait in, say, the golf course clubhouse or a fast-food joint next to wherever they are dining, for one of the Obamas to make an appearance. Usually it’s just a glimpse, sometimes a wave. When POTUS (President of the United States) and FLOTUS (you get it, right) take the kids to Haunama Bay there might be some press beach time. It’s hardly ever newsworthy but it seems like you’d need to be around just in case the leader of the free world does something interesting, like maybe gets a hole in one.

Here’s Pool Report No. 1, 2 and 3, filed by a visiting Wall Street Journal scribe:

Pool Report #1

Kailua

Dec. 23, 2012

At 9:31 a.m., the motorcade is rolling from the Kailua neighborhood where the first family is staying. POTUS is scheduled to attend this morning’s memorial service for Sen. Daniel Inouye.

The motorcade is en route to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

The pool has been holding this morning at a rental house in Kailua. POTUS was briefly visible in a black SUV as we departed.

Pool Report #2

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Dec. 23, 2012

The motorcade arrived at  9:58 a.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The memorial service for Sen. Daniel Inouye is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

POTUS and FLOTUS were not immediately visible upon arrival.

The service is open to credentialed media.

Pool Report #3

At 11:29 a.m., the motorcade departed the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and headed back to the Obamas’ vacation home in Kailua.

The memorial service concluded at 11:20 a.m. Afterward, President Obama and the First Lady made a brief stop in the cemetery to visit the grave of the president’s grandfather, Stanley Dunham. They could be seen from afar, walking together toward the site.

The memorial service was open to credentialed media. A few details from the service:

POTUS and FLOTUS were seated in the front row. It was 77 degrees and sunny here in Honolulu this morning, and guests were seated under white canopied structures that provided some shade. At the start of the service, the president and Mrs. Obama greeted Irene Inouye, the senator’s wife, and other members of his family. The White House shares that the president and First Lady sat with:

Lt. General Francis Wiercinski (Commander of U.S. Army Pacific)

Irene Inouye

Ken Inouye

Jessica Inouye

Jennifer Hirano

Mrs. Locklear

Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III

The outdoor service began with a 19-cannon honor salute. Speakers included Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Daniel Akaka. The service closed with Sen. Jon Tester playing “Taps” on the bugle.

POTUS did not speak during the service.