News of the first death of a Hawai'i citizen soldier in Iraq was met with sorrow and surprise, and with praise for the young man's service.

Hawai'i Army National Guard Sgt. Deyson Cariaga, 20, of Kamehameha Heights, was killed Friday when a bomb exploded near the Humvee he was driving.

"My deepest sympathy goes out, and my condolences go out to the Cariaga family," Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, the state adjutant general, said at a Pearl City Guard ceremony yesterday.

"The entire Hawai'i National Guard is saddened by the course of events as are the soldiers, his buddies, in 229. They had a chance to say goodbye last night to Spec. Cariaga" before his body was shipped home.

Cariaga, a member of the 229th Military Intelligence Company, was posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant. A memorial service will be held Tuesday in Iraq.

A local memorial service will happen when Cariaga's family is ready, Lee said.

"This is really tough for them," he said.

"Members of our Hawai'i National Guard Casualty Assistance Team had a chance to meet with the Cariaga family yesterday."

From Tokyo, Mayor Mufi Hannemann said the loss of Cariaga "is felt by all members of the City and County ohana."

"His passing is a reminder that thousands of Americans remain in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan. We pray for their safe return."

Gov. Linda Lingle said Cariaga's death has deeply affected many in the Islands. "But to the family of Spec. Cariaga, this is a tragic loss," she said.

Cariaga's family issued a statement expressing thanks for the concerns of so many and asking the public and the press to give them time to mourn privately.

"Our entire family is very grateful to our community and to all the people of Hawai'i for their condolences," the statement said. "Deyson was a good soldier and a wonderful son and brother. We are very proud of him and of his service to his country.

"However, this has been a difficult time for us and we still need time to heal."

It was incorrectly reported yesterday that Cariaga went to Farrington High School. He graduated from Roosevelt High in 2002, and was a member of the school's Junior ROTC.

"I'm somewhat devastated by this news," said Frances Raabe-Manupule, whose son Leo, 21, graduated from high school with Cariaga and is in officer's candidate school. Her daughter, Bridget, 18, is in Baghdad with the National Guard.

Raabe-Manupule's children were also in JROTC at Roosevelt High.

"These kids all grew up together. It's like this is one of the kids my daughter looked up to, and my son palled around with. They're all in the same group.

"I'm living with the thought that it could happen to my own."

Still, Raabe-Manupule said she can't decide her children's path, and that she is honored that they, like Cariaga, chose to do what they believe is right and were willing to stand up for their country.

"We can think of Deyson as a hero because that's what he is," she said. "He's a young hero. But then, very few old men go off to war."

Cariaga is survived by his mother, Theresa Inouye, and an older brother, Lance.