It was the sort of ear-splitting roar normally reserved for rock stars and Olympic sports heroes.
Yesterday, though, the focus of attention for thousands of cheering fans at Aloha Stadium were 1,700 citizen soldiers standing at attention on the field.
The public celebration was a raucous, bittersweet show of support for the Hawai'i Army National Guard's 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, soon to be deployed to the Middle East.
Among those screaming themselves hoarse were Mari-lou Udarbe and Colleen Udarbe - mother and bride of Sgt. Erwin Keith Udarbe, 23, of Mililani.
"We're proud of you, son!" yelled Marilou Udarbe, even as she wiped her eyes.
"That's my son holding the rifle, standing next to the U.S.A. flag," she added moments later, barely able to speak. "I'm happy as well as worried. This is his second deployment. He just got married last May. And now he's leaving again."
Soldiers cheered before the Group Hug at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu
Tammy Kubo was also moved to tears as she watched her son, Pfc. William Lurbe, 20 of Ka'a'awa, prepare to deploy for the first time.
"These are very happy tears," said Kubo, wife of U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo. "I'm very proud that he volunteered for service. I'm really going to miss him. He's a wonderful son. Ever since he was a young boy he was passionate about joining the military.
"There are about 20 of his family here, all yelling loud. I don't care if he gets embarrassed - he has a whole year to get over it."
Following his military service, Kubo said, her son aspires to become a police officer.
Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday said 29th BCT is made up of everyday folks who live and work in the Islands.
"When the history of this war is written, the history books are going to point out that it was our citizen soldiers that made the difference in this war," said Lingle, as the crowd erupted. "Not people who are in the military day in and day out, but these men and women who are school teachers, truck drivers, or police officers - our neighbors, our friends, our loved ones."
In addition to the governor, U.S. Sens. Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka also expressed their gratitude to the men and women on the field who will be heading to Kuwait.
The 29th BCT comprises a Headquarters Company; cavalry, field artillery, brigade support and special troops battalions and the 100th/442 Infantry of the U.S Army Reserves.
"These soldiers have trained hard in anticipation of the mission ahead," Col. Bruce Oliveira, commander of the combat team, told the crowd. "I'm proud to report that the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has completed all pre-mobilization requirements and is fully prepared to conduct post-mobilization training at Fort Hood, Texas" before deploying to Kuwait in October.
"This team is ready for what lies ahead."
What immediately was ahead when the celebration ended was an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest group hug.
The Hawai'i National Guard and their friends, family and supporters hugged each other in thee Group Hug at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu
The brainchild of 11-year-old Ashley Kakazu, a Punahou elementary school student, the effort involved some 6,000 people in the stands who linked arms around one another's waist in a daisy chain that stretched all the way to the troops, who did the same thing on the field.
The previous record of 6,623 folks who held a hug in Mexico for 35 seconds appeared to have been shattered when the announcer proclaimed that "more than 7,000 people" hugged continually through the entire tune of "Spread A Little Aloha."
The record still has to be confirmed by the Guinness brass, but that didn't matter to Kakazu, who said the whole cuddly affair was exciting and wonderful beyond her wildest dream.
"There was so much aloha," she said through a wide grin. "You could see it on everyone's faces and they were all hugging each other and having such a great time."
The hug fest continued well after the official attempt had ended - as folks in the stands joined their loved ones and festivities shifted into one colossal party, complete with free food and drinks.
Kristina Louis Soares, 17, daughter of 442nd Staff Sgt. Kalani Louis Soares, 38, held aloft a "Go For Broke, Dad!" sign as she and her family searched through the throng to spot their own personal hero.
"There he is," she cried. "He's coming this way."
Seconds later, Dad had joined Kristina and his wife, Sue Louis Soares, and they were all smiles.
"There's a lot more family here," said Kristina. "But they're all scattered everywhere after the big hug. We'll find them."
And off they went as the celebration continued.
From left, 2nd Lt. Julio Perez, of Ewa Beach, kissed his daughter, Natalie Perez, 7, after the Group Hug at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu yesterday morning.
Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.
