For most, the blowout bash was the last hurrah before the battalion's soldiers move out in early October for months of special training on the Mainland, followed by a yearlong deployment in Iraq.

"We decided that we'd have a real celebration to say thanks to the soldiers and their families," said Maj. Robert Lesher, the battalion's second in command.

"This is the last time that the families and the soldiers will come together and bond in a social environment for quite a while," added the battalion's commander, Lt. Col. Keith Tamashiro.

The families will be able to enjoy two weeks together over Christmas and New Year's. Many are planning to make the most of those final two weeks before the battalion deploys to Iraq.

Beneath the levity and distractions, there was no hiding the apprehension of some who reflected on the inevitable fact that these soldiers would soon be heading into harm's way.

"Yes, I'm worried about him," confessed Sonya Makali'i, 37, of Kualoa, who's married to Lester Makali'i, a 41-year-old platoon sergeant. "In 18 years of marriage, this will be the longest we have ever been apart."

They are scheduling a whirlwind vacation to Las Vegas and Disneyland with their four children, ages 2 to 18, over the holidays. Then, Sonya's mother will keep the kids for a few days before Lester deploys so the couple can spend some quality time alone.

World War II veteran Charles Choo, 78, momentarily betrayed his cheerful composure to express anxiety about his son, 2nd Lt. Edward Choo, 29.

"That's my one and only," he said, as his eyes briefly welled with tears. "He's going to Iraq. There's no sure thing. But you do what you've got to do."

He paused, then said: "He just got married, you know."

Edward Choo and his wife, Sam Suk, were married last year on Charles Choo's birthday — Sept. 28. In February, the bride said goodbye to her husband

as he left for the Mainland for nearly six months of artillery training. Now, she'll say goodbye again soon after their first anniversary.

"She was a little worried about it at first," said Edward. "But she's OK with it now."

"I'm not going to worry about him," said Sam Suk resolutely. "I'm very proud of him. I believe God is looking out for both of us."

First Lt. Richard "Doc" Moriyama, an Airborne Ranger and battalion assistant physician who was in the Gulf War while in the Army, was obviously having a good time, although his wife, Heather, and two small children, Kai, 1, and Claire, 3, were not with him.

"My wife, who is a certified dietitian for the Army, is at Fort Knox, Kentucky, with the children," said Moriyama, who hasn't seen his family since being activated in August.

As he spoke, Moriyama was interrupted by a soldier who wondered if "Doc" could take a look at his foot, which had recently become severely infected. The two moved outside the hangar where Moriyama spent a few moments examining the man's foot, then said it showed improvement since he had last seen it.

With that, Moriyama gave the man his phone number and advised him to call "any time, night or day — 24/7" about his foot, or anything else.

"It's very hard for me to be here without my family," continued Moriyama, after he returned to the party.