The Obamas are vacationing in Hawaii this week, and they’re not alone. Dozens of White House staff and journalists who cover the president have also traveled to the island state. Their mission? For some, like the Secret Service, it’s to keep the president and his family safe. For others, like journalists, it’s to report on presidential activities, and to be ready for any potential breaking news stories.

White House staff is also on alert for any possible terror threats. It was, after all, Christmas Day last year when a terrorist attempted to blow up a plane destined for the United States. President Obama has his top counterterrorism adviser, John O. Brennan, on speed dial.

A president is never truly on vacation. There are always reports to read, public appearances to be made, and unexpected issues to address. And the people who travel with him find it difficult to take a break as well. However, one reporter has found a way to put a little fun into his busy work schedule. CNN’s White House correspondent Ed Henry, who has followed president Obama to Hawaii for the third year in a row, wears colorful Hawaiian shirts and flip-flops while on-camera, leaving his traditional suit and tie in his suitcase.