midway atoll president barack obama snorkel thursday electric-blue water midway atoll remote coral reef serve reminder modern global climate challenge unite state dominance pacific since world war two victory journey aim send message need protect vulnerable species space ravage climate change also time obama make way meet chinese president xi jinping world leaders last visit asia seek refocus u.s. defense trade policy region signal message say unite state commit stay pacific sort back away say naval historian tom hone study battle midway zip around island 18-golf-cart motorcade fill secret service aid camera crew obama stop see several endanger green sea turtle lazily paddle bask white sand beach grow see turtle time almost never see beach like bask sun say obama grow hawaii 1,100 nautical miles southeast obama whose presidency come end five months try use time office make americans passionate climate change less percent american voters say environment important issue face country accord reuters/ipsos poll july 24 aug. 21 35 percent say climate change affect way vote nov. election pick obama successor island visit bookends obama trip last year alaska hike shrink glacier photo ops think real opportunities help american people understand say carol brown former head environmental protection agency advise obama climate issue first term get level attention nobody else get brown say last week obama quadruple size papahānaumokuākea marine national monument create world large marine monument protect area coast hawaii commercial fish drill go precious resource generations come say obama dress shirt undo extra button sauna-like heat hallow grind say near beach young soldier hunker pillboxes await japanese fighter plan world war two battle midway one most-studied battle military history courage bravery airmen might see tide turn battle pacific say june 1942 u.s. force tip code-breakers japanese navy plan attack sink four japanese aircraft carriers heavy cruiser giant air sea battle obama golf cart motorcade bump tarmac pock-marked shrapnel battle pass old hangars bone yard scrap metal old office chair break appliances massive bag hold 20 tons plastic ocean garbage land island year tons come belly albatrosses fee plastic young often fatally curious tern fledglings check entourage triple island average population 35 humans watch burrow call miel corbett fish wildlife service spokeswoman visitor narrowly avoid stomp underground home bonin petrel million bird swoop nest night dusk vestiges island former life large naval base remain although many fall decay visitors allow since 2012 tight budget reporters write stories still-working 1970s bowl alley way barber shop obama visit midway atoll symbol climate asia legacy