Hawai'i is buzzing — again — about the accomplishments of decathlete Bryan Clay, whose stellar talents now have enshrined him as a world-class star. The Olympic silver medalist clearly has not finished dazzling his fans on the track.

A graduate of Castle High School, Clay won the decathlon in Helsinki at the 10th World Championships of Track and Field, and he did it in real style.

Not to be defeated either by the usual contingent of elite competitors or by the challenging weather conditions, the 25-year-old captured the world title by the largest margin in 14 years.

Clay called the achievement the fulfillment of a childhood dream, but an athlete does not progress to this point in a dreamlike state. When home with his wife and newborn son in California, his daily regimen still finds him training hard at his alma mater, Azusa Pacific.

As exultant as everyone was to see him at last best longtime rival Roman Sebrle in Finland, Clay and his supporters have their eyes on the prize: the Beijing Games in 2008.

Until then, we can celebrate the American-dream example Clay sets, as an ordinary kid whose hard work and determination have elevated him to the top of his class. From there, he's working to pass the aloha down to the next generation, through his new Bryan Clay Foundation for young athletes.

Not to brag about a Hawai'i son, but ... well, all right. It's bragging, but the forgivable kind.