Hawai'i is buzzing about Beckham.

David Beckham arrived today, delighting a slew of frenzied fans. The Los Angeles Galaxy star is playing in the inaugural Pan-Pacific Championship exhibition tournament, which starts Wednesday.

Beckham said he looked forward to enjoying his first trip to the islands.

"I think the beaches are something to be admired and something that we're all going to enjoy," he said. "The atmosphere and the warmth of the place. Everybody has such a friendly aura about them in Hawai'i."

Wearing a floral lei, Beckham appeared relaxed, confident and eager to redeem himself after a difficult first season with the Galaxy.

He's entering the second year of a $32.5 million, five-year contract with the Los Angeles, which failed to reach the playoffs last year for the second straight season.

"I think we're all disappointed with last season, but it's a fresh start," he said.

Beckham noted the team's new coach Ruud Gullit, players and "togetherness."

"We need to win something or at least reach the playoffs this season. It's disappointing when you don't," he said. "We can only put it right on the field. Once we're on the field, if we play the football we can play and work hard for each other, we can achieve things. It's all about hard work."

Beckham said it was great to be in the islands, but the team wasn't viewing the trip as a vacation.

It sure started out like one.

Dressed in a dark-colored Galaxy warmup, Beckham arrived on a commercial flight from Los Angeles and was greeted with a purple-and-white orchid lei by Miss Honolulu Raeceen Woolford and gentle Hawaiian music.

Several flight attendants screamed when they realized the TV cameras and photographers were waiting for Beckham. A few lucky fans got an autograph, including a star-struck Akane Trantham, who appeared as if she was going to faint.

Beckham didn't get much of a chance to rest or do any sightseeing. He was shuttled to his oceanside Waikiki hotel, where he had to attend a press conference two hours later.

A motley crew of about 100 reporters and photographers — from Japanese radio and U.S. entertainment magazines to a local community college reporter — attended the splashy news conference.

Beckham was recently denied his 100th national team appearance by England's new coach Fabio Capello, who thought the 32-year-old midfielder wasn't in top shape without a competitive match since November.

Even without its former captain, England defeated the Swiss 2-1 in an exhibition match. Beckham would have become England's fifth player to reach the 100-match milestone, considered a mark of honor representing competitiveness and longevity.

Beckham said the Galaxy are three weeks into preseason training, "so we're not match fit yet."

"We're looking forward to getting our fitness in these games and we're looking forward to spending time here," said Beckham, who is not traveling with his wife, Victoria.

The four-team tournament will feature a pair of doubleheaders Wednesday and Saturday, with the first day's winners playing for the title and the losers for third place. Gamba Osaka of Japan will open the tournament against the Galaxy, with Houston Dynamo facing Sydney FC.

After the tournament, the Galaxy will play in South Korea and China before starting the regular season at the end of March.