In the end, it wasn’t about a view of Hawaii’s oceanfront property. For Barack and Michelle Obama, the decision on where to build the presidential library was about returning to their roots.

In a video posted early Tuesday morning, the Obamas made it official: The library will be built on the South Side of Chicago, where the president met his wife, started a family and launched his political career.

But Hawaii has a silver lining: The Barack Obama Foundation announced that it will also “establish a lasting presence in Honolulu.”

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Maya Soetoro-Ng, the president’s sister and a foundation board member, said the University of Hawaii’s bid had “articulated clear and thoughtful vision, which helped convince the foundation and the president of the importance of developing a partnership with Hawaii.”

“We’re just starting the process of building the platform to advance the work of the president and the first lady after they leave the White House. But I know I speak on behalf of my brother when I say we’re so pleased that Hawaii will be a part of it,” she added.

For the most part, Tuesday’s announcement was no surprise — nearly two weeks ago, The New York Times and Chicago’s local media outlets already reported that the University of Chicago’s bid was the winner.

To hear Obama tells it, Chicago was the only place that really made sense. “All the strands of my life came together and I really became a man when I moved to Chicago. That’s where I was able to apply that early idealism to try to work in communities in public service. That’s where I met my wife. That’s where my children were born,” the president said.