EWA BEACH – More than a hundred people crowded Ewa Beach's two shopping centers last night searching for food, candles, batteries, and the camaraderie created by similar circumstances.

By 9 p.m. the wait to get into Star Market's Ewa Beach location was an hour at least and more than 100 people were lined up outside, waiting to get in. The store had partial power thanks to a backup generator at the Ewa Beach shopping center. The center was able to keep some lights on along the walkways. Families stood patiently in line while children ran around with flashlights and glow sticks. One group of shoppers turned a corner of the parking lot near McDonalds into a fireworks display before security guards chased them away.

Louana Akina was at home playing the video game Rock Band: World Tour with her family when the lights went out at about 7 p.m.

"I feel lost. We have to buy candles," said Akina. "Hopefully they can get something up and running. We'll play board games by candlelight until then."

Honolulu police parked patrol cars near the intersection of Fort Weaver Road and Papipi Road to control traffic and monitor the growing crowd. By 8 p.m. the parking lot of the Ewa Beach shopping center had become an impromptu gathering place for area families looking for supplies and something to do.

A steady stream of cars poured into the parking lot from about 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. as the shopping center was one of the few places in Ewa Beach with electricity.

Redempto Quinto, a 54-year-old security guard, sat on his golf cart coordinating his patrol.

"There was some power but it's only a backup generator," said Quinto. "We'll open up when the electricity comes back."