A ceremony this morning at the Hilton Hawaiian Village marked the centennial of the day the first wave of Korean immigration into the U.S. began, and the overwhelming mood was one of pride in culture and what was repeatedly described as the "indomitable spirit" of Korean Americans.

Ronald Moon, chief justice of the Hawai'i Supreme Court, focused his keynote address on the ordeal endured by pioneer immigrants, such as his own grandparents. Moon said his father, Duke, followed in their footsteps, adopting the values of faith, courage, hard work and public service that characterized the Korean community in Hawai'i.

"My father used to say that public service is the rent you pay for your occupying space on this earth," he said. "These values were rooted in my parents and grandparents and passed down to me... I hope I have been successful in passing them down to my children."

But the dignitaries who arrived this week for the launch of year-long festivities could not set aside the concern over the worries that North Korea has resumed work towards creating nuclear weapons. The South Korea government was represented by Sung Chul Yang, the republic's ambassador to the United States; Kwan Yong Park, speaker of the Korean Assembly; and Myung-sook Han, minister of gender equity. Han was appearing in place of the defense minister, who was unable to leave the country because of the current tensions.

Their translated addresses appeared on large screens fronting the packed Coral Ballroom as they spoke.

"Our government will resolve it peacefully, through close consultation and dialogues with the United States and neighboring countries, Japan, China and Russia," Han said.

Park asked the Korean-Americans within the assembly for "unwavering support and continued concern," and urged them to continue their forebears' tradition of hard work and striving for excellence.

"The status of Korea will become greater if you consolidate your positions within American society."

Gov. Linda Lingle took the stage after the Korean, U.S. and state anthems were sung, citing the Koreans' story as part of the great American immigration epic.

"It's a story that mirrors the story of all immigrants," she said. "They all came in search of peace, of freedom, of opportunity and, most importantly, a better future for their children," Lingle said. "The Korean-American experience is the American experience."

Everyone praised the work of Donald Kim, the general chairman of the Centennial Committee of Korean Immigration to the United States. Today marks the centennial of the beginning of the first wave of Korean immigration to Hawai'i, but the preliminary celebration has been under way for two years. The organization behind the centennial first began 12 years ago with preparation for the 90th anniversary celebration, a kind of dry run for the events planned in 2003.

South Korean government officials soon pointed out that the observance should be planned on a national scale: When the first immigrants stepped off the ship in Hawai'i, Kim said, they also became the first to set foot on American soil. The centennial committee then expanded its reach, and regional subcommittees were established in Los Angeles, San Francisco.

Committee chairman Donald Kim has said he hopes that through the year the celebration will bring 30,000 people to Hawai'i, and that it will serve as a promotion for the state as well as an education on Korean culture.