Mayor Mufi Hannemann was prepared to greet President-elect Barack Obama this afternoon but Obama's campaign asked that no one welcome him back home so the family can immediately begin its 10-day Hawai'i vacation.

"The mayor wants to respect the president-elect's wishes and those of his family," Hannemann spokesman Bill Brennan said today.

However, Hannemann asked Honolulu police officials to pass along a Christmas gift basket to Obama and his family, which includes a Christmas card, Honolulu City Lights Christmas tree ornament, and a book and T-shirt that Brennan could not immediately describe.

Brennan did not know whether a meeting will be scheduled between Hannemann and Obama.