Honolulu, Hawaii – Forget the image of the controversial handshake between U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro during the memorial celebration for the late Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa. Or that of the  beer diplomacy at the White House involving Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and  Cambridge police chief James Crowley. Google it if you have no idea what we’re talking about.

The big news today was the unexpected meeting between Obama and Sarah Palin who are both vacationing in Hawaii.

No visit to Honolulu is ever complete without stopping by  Leonard’s Bakery to pick up a box of  malasadas, those warm pastries resembling donut holes rolled in sugar.

Apparently, malasadas are a favorite of the  political rivals, and they happened to stop by Leonard’s tonight at the same time.  At first, both felt very uncomfortable at the unexpected meeting, but after they both got their orders, they felt the spirit of aloha and shook hands.

Members of the press corps accompanying the president (including our star reporter at The Adobo Chronicles) were shocked at what they saw, but conceded that everything they witnessed was all because of the holiday atmosphere that’s been spreading uncontrollably in the Rainbow State.

Mele Kalikimaka!