Obama visits Marines on Christmas

President Obama and the first family made a surprise visit Saturday to a Hawaii Marine base to visit with troops on Christmas Day. 

Even though the trip to Marine Corps Base Hawaii was unannounced, Obama has traveled to the base the past two Christmases while vacationing with family and friends in his home state.

The Obamas arrived at 3:32 p.m. local time Saturday, according to White House pool reports, and stayed for about 40 minutes, giving Christmas greetings, shaking hands and snapping pictures with troops.

Obama asked "a hulking, tall man" to get in on his regular basketball game, according to a pool report. 

“We've gotta get you on the court,” Obama said.

"I will not get an elbow in the lip if we play with this guy,” the president joked about his recent hoops injury, which required him to get stitches.

On the base, troops had for dinner — prime rib, turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, salad bar, pie and various pastries.

Earlier in the day the first family "enjoy[ed] family and friends, enjoy[ed] their traditional Christmas Day activities and [took] in a little NBA basketball," deputy White House press secretary Bill Burton said.