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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, August 11, 2003

Hickam air show 'a huge success'

Advertiser Staff

Officials said 45,000 to 50,000 people turned out yesterday to see the Thunderbirds, the Air Force air demonstration team, do their stuff over Hickam Air Force Base.

Maj. Almarah Belk estimated the crowd for the two-day event at 95,000 to 100,000. "We think it's a huge success; everything went beautifully," she said.

At one point yesterday, traffic slowed down on the H-1 Freeway near Hickam as people pulled over to watch.

The Thunderbirds were flying in Hawai'i for the first time since 1995. Belk said it would be at least two years before they return.

The event was part of the first-ever Friends and Neighbors Weekend at Hickam. The Air Force said the weekend was a chance for the community to see what goes on inside the base.