President Obama interrupted his O'ahu vacation yesterday to make his first statement about the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a Northwest Airline flight and to rush off the golf course when the son of one of his friends suffered a minor injury on the beach in Kailua.

"The first family is fine Eric and Cheryl Whitaker's son was examined and released from the hospital," said Bill Burton, deputy White House press secretary. "He is home playing with his friends and just fine."

Obama is in the middle of a 10-day Hawai'i vacation, which began Dec. 24.

Yesterday, Obama had gone to Luana Hills Country Club about 10:40 a.m. following a game of tennis at the Kailua Racquet Club with the first lady — and after his statement at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

At the golf course, according to Darren Sumimoto, the club's general manager: "All of a sudden they just came and left. We didn't see anything."

An administration official told pool reporters that the boy suffered a "run-of-the-mill beach injury" that initially was thought to need stitches. Obama left the golf course immediately to make sure the boy was with his parents and returned to his vacation home "in a very high speed and dramatic motorcade," according to a media pool report.

After it was determined that the injury was minor, the president returned to the golf course, where he golfed until sundown and did not get a full 18 holes in. The golfing party consisted of several groups and included, among others, Marty Nesbitt, Reggie Love and Ben Finkenbinder.

Obama was back at the Kailua house at 6 p.m.

Sources told The Advertiser that the child was treated at the vacation compound and was not taken to The Queen's Medical Center, although Secret Service agents were stationed at Queen's. At least six Secret Service agents and five security guards from Queen's kept media at a distance from Hawai'i's major trauma center.

Obama's fifth day of his O'ahu Christmas vacation began with his usual early- morning workout at the Marine base's "Semper Fit" gym, followed by a tennis workout with his wife that was barred to the media.

The president then made his first public remarks since arriving in Hawai'i during a seven-minute news conference at the Marine base's Käne'ohe Klipper Golf Course clubhouse at 10:03 a.m.

Obama discussed the attempted bombing of the Detroit-bound jet and the government crackdown on protesters in Iran at the Marine base clubhouse meeting room.

Before Obama spoke, an aide affixed the presidential seal to a podium backed by the U.S. and presidential flags and temporarily-erected deep blue drapes.

The motorcade pulled up at 9:59 a.m. and Obama said, "Hey guys. Good morning, everybody."

Wearing a blue suit and white shirt without a tie, Obama spoke of the steps taken after the bombing attempt.

Obama also condemned government opposition to protesters in Iran that resulted in at least 15 deaths.

"The United States joins with the international community in strongly condemning the violent and unjust suppression of innocent Iranian citizens, which has apparently resulted in detentions, injuries and even death," he said.

Obama, who was accompanied by at least six unidentified people who were not part of his staff, did not take any questions.

For increasing numbers of Marines at Käne'ohe Bay, Obama's workouts and appearances on base have provided a brush with their commander in chief.

Pfc. Jeffrey Scarmazzi, 22, of Jessup, Md., videotaped Obama's appearance for the base's "combat camera" unit. It was Scarmazzi's first presidential press conference.

"It was nice being on the inside," Scarmazzi said. The setup for the news conference "ran smooth until they let the press pool in — photographers were springing and hopping all over the place."

Scarmazzi was taken with Obama's initial greeting to the press.

"Kind of unexpected informality on his part," Scarmazzi said.

Lance Cpl. Colby Brown, 20, from Redmond, Ore., got to meet the president in the Anderson Hall chow hall on Christmas Day.

"I shook his hand," Brown said. "He asked me how I was doing and then he asked me if I was having a good Christmas, and if I had called my mom and dad."

Brown said Obama greeted everyone seated at the chow hall on Christmas — at least 75 Marines, sailors, soldiers and family members.

"I think it's pretty cool," Brown said. "It's not every day you get to meet your commander in chief. He seemed pretty nice.

"Seemed like he actually cared."