KAILUA — A small group of demonstrators outside President-elect Barack Obama's vacation home had little effect on the neighborhood of upscale, multimillion-dollar homes.

The pro-Palestinian activists marched yesterday morning and said that they want the incoming administration to take a fresh look at the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian territories, especially given the current fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Some of the neighbors near the protest objected to Obama being pestered, while others supported the right of the group to bring their grievances to the president-elect.

"I'm more of the belief that the guy's got a tough job ahead and you ought to give him some space," said Fred Larson, a resident of the Kailuana neighborhood.

"If you want to get something done in a Democratic society, you have to work through the channels. They can write a letter to their congressman if you want something to happen."

The eight activists carried signs to the edge of the security perimeter of Obama's vacation retreat, keeping to the sidewalk and obeying the law, police said. The group was orderly and stayed for under two hours, leaving when Obama left the area.

"We feel there's a great need for change. We need to stop giving Israel a blank check to do what it's doing," said Margaret Brown, a 66-year-old Honolulu resident who held a handmade sign that read, "Yes we can change U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine."

"We just gave them a blank check to oppress the Palestinians, and this is the result," she said.

Israel continued its air attacks on Gaza yesterday and warned a ground invasion could follow if rocket attacks on Israel didn't stop. The United States has called on the militant group Hamas to stop launching rockets.

Obama did not acknowledge the protesters. His motorcade passed them as it headed on a morning trip to Punahou School, his former high school, where the president-elect planned to play basketball with friends.

"Gazans need food, medicine, not war," read one sign carried by yesterday's demonstrators. "Free Palestine," read another. A third: "No U.S. support for Israel."

Brown said politicians need to speak what they believe, not what is expedient.

"It's political suicide to challenge Israel in this country," she said.

Obama supporters, also holding signs, stood nearby.

Some neighbors, including resident Angie Larson, felt that the protesters ruined the neighborly atmosphere developing in the community since Obama arrived.

"Kailua is very special," Larson said. "We like to share it. I'm sorry to see that happen. The man is vacationing. He deserves the respect to have that vacation in private. We think it's great that he's in Kailua and visiting us."

Ryan Gillert, a visitor from the San Francisco Bay Area, said the media were more trouble than anyone else. Obama's crew has been polite but the swarm of photographers and video operators has been a hassle, Gillert said, adding that he heard the protesters from his bedroom yesterday morning.

Elaine Caspers, who has lived in the neighborhood for 12 years, said she thought the protesters were people lining up to wave to Obama as they have done since he arrived on Dec. 20. News of the protest surprised her.

"He's not even president yet," Caspers said, adding that she has been glad that Obama's family was staying nearby.

Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their two young daughters are near the end of a 12-day vacation here. He has maintained no public schedule and has limited his travel mostly to trips to the gym, golf course and dinner with friends. Yesterday, he and daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, visited the Honolulu Zoo. The family is scheduled to return to Chicago tomorrow.