While President Obama has kept a decidedly low profile during his Hawai'i vacation, his security detail has made quite a visual impact in the Kailua neighborhood where he is staying.

Would-be paparazzi hoping to get a shot of Obama and the rest of the first family say they've had to make do with the tolerant if less-than-sunny visages of the Secret Service agents whose job it is to ensure the president's safety and privacy.

Though not a big fan of the Hawai'i-born president, Linda Pacheco, 50, of Kailua, strolled onto the grassy embankment across the canal from where the Obamas are spending the week. She didn't spot the president, but she did get a good look at the imposing armed boat docked on the other side as well as two sets of Coast Guard personnel patrolling the waterway in inflatable boats.

"It's kind of scary to see all of this security," Pacheco said. "I don't think (Obama's) visit has really disrupted anything out here, but all of this armed security is kind of intimidating. I didn't expect it."

Pacheco said she sympathizes with residents whose street has been closed off by the Secret Service and wondered why the Obamas didn't stay at the nearby Marine Corps Base Hawai'i.

"And I don't know why they told people where they are in the first place," she said. "If they didn't say anything, nobody would be coming around trying to see them."

Obama started the second full day of his Hawai'i vacation with an early morning conference call with national security and counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan and National Security Staff chief of staff Denis McDonough regarding heightened air security in the wake of Friday's attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight bound for Detroit. Obama followed that with a workout at the Marine base.

According to a media pool report, demonstrators were again present along the route, holding signs protesting the nation's ongoing military involvement in Afghanistan.

Media covering Obama's vacation in Hawai'i were asked to respect the privacy of his 8- and 11-year-old daughters.

White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton and Michelle Obama's press secretary, Katie McCormick Lelyveld, issued a joint statement yesterday urging journalists not to photograph or film Sasha or Malia Obama when they are on excursions without their parents.

Obama spent most of the rest of the day at the Kane'ohe Klipper Golf Course, where he played with friend Dr. Eric Whitaker and Hawai'i pals Greg Orme, Mike Ramos and Bobby Titcomb, according to a pool report.

Obama also made an unscheduled stop at Pyramid Rock Beach to watch the waves, to the surprise of swimmers and sunbathers.

Tom Schuetter, 57, frequents the beach adjacent to the street where the Obamas are renting a house. He said swimmers and surfers have been venturing as close to the secured perimeter as the Secret Service will allow, trying to get a glimpse of the Obamas.

Schuetter wasn't able to get to the best surfing spot yesterday because of the security restriction, but he said it was a minor inconvenience.

"I didn't vote for the guy, but he's my president," Schuetter said. "I think he has the right to be left alone. Nobody who lives here wants to pester him."

Not that they could.

Secret Service personnel firmly but politely turned away scores of cars attempting to turn into the secured street. Others shooed camera-wielding onlookers from areas around the canal or patrolled the ocean on personal watercraft.

Schuetter's wife, Dolly, took a snapshot of Schuetter catching a wave at the beach yesterday.

"I hope she got the Secret Service guys in the background," he said, laughing.

Richard Wong, manager of nearby Pinky's Pupus Bar and Grill, said the restaurant has seen a mild uptick in business thanks to curious patrons and Secret Service, FBI and Coast Guard personnel who stop by for a bite after their shifts.

"They're very friendly, very helpful," Wong said of the president's security detail. "And we definitely feel protected. It's not like anybody is going to try and rob us with those guys around."