A hug and a hongi with Barack Obama.
That's what Deidre Otene shared with the former US president when she finally met him after reading his books and hearing him speak at events in Hawaii.
The Northland woman was one of 20 leaders from the Wahine Toa Network who had breakfast with Obama at the Sofitel Hotel in Auckland yesterday.
"He shook my hand, gave him a hongi, and then when we left he gave us a hug.
"I've come from this place where I used to follow Obama and Michelle on YouTube and read their books and follow their leadership styles, to having a conversation with him," she said.