When word came down last night that a black man born and raised in Hawai'i had clinched the nation's highest office, the overflow crowd at a Barack Obama party at Ala Moana Center erupted in screams, applause and tears.

There was also plenty of "chicken skin."

"Whoever thought somebody from Hawai'i could become president?" shouted George Waialeale, 61, over the celebratory noise at Pearl Ultralounge.

"Never in my wildest dreams," added the Obama volunteer.

Nearby, Makiki resident Colette Devou, 26, stood smiling broadly at big television screens showing election results.

"The goose bumps are speaking for themselves," Devou said, when asked for her reaction to the Obama win. "I'm very, very stoked."

Across the Islands last night, from living room get-togethers to the Ala Moana gathering put on by the Democratic Party of Hawai'i, residents celebrated the presidential victory of a native son who at one time was a longshot to win.

Many residents said they were delighted with the thought of someone like them — a guy who likes plate lunches and Zippy's, has a weakness for shave ice and showed the world his bodysurfing skills at Sandy Beach during a visit to the Islands in August — going all the way to the White House.

"I like what he has to say," said Pauahi Ioane, 47, of Palolo. "And what president do you know who can bodysurf that well?"

Democratic Party of Hawai'i Chairman Brian Schatz said Obama has captured the hearts of Hawai'i residents, and has brought scores of new voters — and brought back plenty of disenchanted ones — to the polls.

"When you take a moment and think about it, it's breathtaking," Schatz said, about Obama's candidacy.

"We've never seen enthusiasm like this (in Hawai'i) and everybody is savoring their opportunity to take part in history."

Ever since the Illinois senator — known as "Barry" by his Punahou classmates — announced his run for the presidency in February 2007, thousands of Hawai'i residents have galvanized to back their native son.

They didn't slack off yesterday, coming out even before polling stations opened to beat the lines and ensure they were able to cast a vote for Obama.

Eyona Menka, 31, of Punahou, said she came to the polls because of Obama's message of hope.

"Hope brings me out today," she said. "I just feel he's more compassionate and a little more driven by integrity."

Many supported Obama because of the state of the economy. Others said they were hopeful he would end the war in Iraq.

Gabriella Davila, 45, of Mililani, said there are too many issues to name that need to be addressed.

"The country is not going good," the homemaker said.

The prospect of sending a Hawai'i boy to the White House has also converted some Republicans in the Islands. Kane'ohe resident Rex Godinex, 49, a member of the Air National Guard, said he often supports Republicans, "but this time I wanted to see something different."

Still, there was no shortage of John McCain supporters at poll stations as well. At Farrington High School, Ben and Jasmin Flora both voted for McCain because of his experience.

"I'm old-fashioned," said Ben Flora, a military veteran. "McCain has more experience and he went through a lot."

Jasmin Flora said she is also a big fan of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. "I like her because she's perky," she said.

Bill Louis, 53, of Waikele, said he voted for McCain because Obama "has little experience." He added he would have voted for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton.

But Manu Mook, 61, of Waimanalo, said he believes Obama will be able to bring people together to address the big problems facing the nation.

"I prayed and I prayed to God that this would happen," Mook said of Obama's victory. "It's an overwhelming feeling."

Obama has been a boon to the Hawai'i Democratic Party — whose membership has more than doubled in the past year. The fever pitch over Obama's nomination first reached immense proportions in February, when a record 37,000 Hawai'i voters turned out for the Democratic caucuses, which had never before seen more than 5,000.

Obama was born in Honolulu and spent much of his childhood in Hawai'i, graduating from Punahou School in 1979.

His maternal grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, raised Obama in the same 10th-floor apartment on Beretania Street where she died early Monday. His grandfather is also buried in Hawai'i, and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, lives here.

Obama last visited the Islands in October, making an unprecedented departure from the campaign trail so close to the election to see his dying grandmother, whom he called "Toot," short for tutu, during a 22-hour stay.

In August, Obama took a week's vacation to Hawai'i, making a public appearance at a rally at Ke'ehi Lagoon to thank his supporters in the Islands and to remind them he still remembers where he came from.

"I'm going to get a plate lunch. I might go to Zippy's. I might go to Rainbow Drive-In," Obama told the crowd of about 4,000. "I'm going to get some shave ice. I'm going to go bodysurfing ... and I'm going to watch my girls play on the beach."

Last night, at the Makiki apartment where his grandmother lived, residents gathered in the courtyard to celebrate her life and her grandson's victory. About 30 people sat around a television and shared food, near a table laden with lei and flowers for Dunham. A sign near the table read, "God Bless Toot, Barry and the USA."