The mountain of water bottles, suntan lotion and hand cream weighed in at 1,000 pounds by 10:30 yesterday morning and continued to grow as airline passengers in Hawai'i learned they could no longer bring fluids or gel-like substances aboard their flights.

The discarded items kept airport custodian Kimo Holdren busy emptying 50-gallon trash containers.

"One lady just threw away a $90 bottle of perfume," Holdren said. "But I haven't seen too many disgruntled people."

At various times, four lines of several hundred passengers stretched onto the sidewalk as airport officials repeatedly blared out instructions that liquids such as bottled water and gel-like substances such as suntan lotion were banned from planes following the foiled terrorist plot in London.

The lines swelled and shrank all day — but never disappeared — as passengers faced a new security check just before boarding.

Honeymooners Kristy and Josh Blewett from Detroit got word of the thwarted plot Wednesday night and tried to prepare. Kristy originally thought she could not bring any liquids or lotions — no matter where she packed them.

"That's a couple of hundred dollars for a girl," she said, relieved that she could still tote her creams in her checked luggage.

But the Detroit newlywed wasn't complaining about any of it.

"I'm really glad we're waiting and not just being thrown on a plane," Kristy Blewett said. "It makes me feel safer."

Small inconveniences bothered some. Starr Kalahiki, a Honolulu singer flying yesterday to San Jose, Calif., couldn't bring anything aboard to drink.

"I made sure I was hydrated well this morning because I knew I couldn't bring any water," she said as she waited in line.

While Hawai'i airports were relatively calm, passengers arriving from the Mainland shared stories of long lines, nearly missed flights and sprints through airports.

Shelley Chichester arrived at San Francisco International early yesterday morning unaware of the increased security measures. Chichester, her family and friends were greeted by huge lines and security officials walking around with megaphones.

Twenty minutes before her plane was to take off, the group was still waiting to clear security when they were escorted through. Then it was a race to the gate.

"I was running," Chichester said. "I was huffing and puffing when I got to the gate."

'DOING IT RIGHT'

Transportation Security Administration officials at Lihu'e Airport opened three lines to handle departing-passenger security — rather than the normal one or two.

"They're really doing it right," said Jeannie Childs of Lihu'e, a Kaua'i-to-Honolulu passenger. "They've got extra people on duty, and they have people out front explaining the new rules. They're really friendly. And the wait is not that long."

Kaua'i Visitors Bureau director Sue Kanoho said her agency was prepared to send people to the airport to assist visitors if delays and extra-long lines occurred but had not heard of difficulties requiring additional passenger assistance.

"We're trying to warn visitors as early as possible," Kanoho said. "We've got fliers at all the rental-car agencies, and we're asking vendors selling liquid items to warn people they won't be able to take them on the plane."

Some passengers yesterday opted to spend a few bucks to mail their banned items home, rather than add them to the growing pile of airport trash.

The airport has had "Send-It-Home" kiosks at each of five security checkpoints since last year, spokesman Scott Ishikawa said.

The kiosks, which are operated by a private vendor, charge $7 to send an item within the United States or $14 to mail it internationally, using either a check or credit card.

Yesterday, "I saw a couple people using them," Ishikawa said.

"But you can't put lighters in there," he said. "Or at least you'd have to take out all the fuel first."

MAKING ADJUSTMENTS

At Kahului Airport on Maui, departing passenger Marsha Stiegel of Chicago tried to get rid of several bottles of water she otherwise would have taken on her flight home.

"You want some water?" she asked.

Stiegel, traveling with husband Michael and sons Mark, 15, and Ben, 12, packed her cosmetics in her luggage instead of carrying them on the plane.

"I would've carried all of my lotions — my hand lotion, my face lotion, lip gloss, the whole thing — that I use on a long flight," she said.

T.J. Cravey of Jacksonville, Fla., normally likes to cut it close when he travels, arriving at the airport about a half-hour before departure. But yesterday Cravey, 25, and wife Rhonda, 23, showed up at Kahului Airport two hours before their interisland flight after their hotel passed out fliers advising visitors of the new restrictions.

Cravey said he didn't mind the delays too much.

"As long as it's safer," he said. "I'm sure after a month or so, it will be back to normal."

At Hilo Airport, officials used the public address system to regularly advise passengers of the heightened security, warning they would be subject to additional screening at the gates. The announcements also reminded passengers that no liquids would be allowed in carry-on luggage.

Betty and Howard Davis of Wellston, Ohio, were headed from the Big Island to Maui as part of a vacation with their granddaughter, Tamar Kisor, 18.

"I guess it's always in your mind," said Betty Davis, 55. "You think about it. But I guess with the security measures in place now, you feel a little safer."

Alvin Trapp, of Kihei, worried about how he would repack his belongings to stow his shaving cream and saline solution for his contact lenses — items he had planned to bring with him in carry-on luggage.

Trapp said a friend called him last night to warn him about the London arrests.

"It's fear — they're instilling fear in people is what they're doing," he said. "They take care of it over there (in London), and now I come here today and I find out on the radio, no liquids at all. That's overboard."