If Hawai'i-born U.S. Sen. Barack Obama announces on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" that he will run for president — as supporters in Hawai'i have speculated — that probably would not happen until late January or beyond.

Obama, an Illinois Democrat, is not scheduled to make any appearances on the television talk show, which is not taping new broadcasts until at least mid-January, a spokeswoman for the show said.

Obama has been quietly vacationing here and is expected to announce his intentions sometime after he returns to the Mainland.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, said at a news conference Thursday that he believed Obama would announce his candidacy on the "Oprah" show soon if he decides to run.