Beneath his custom-assembled Tie Fighter Pilot uniform breathes (deeply) a normal, well-adjusted guy.

Yep, just your typical, nondescript 31-year-old who edits videos to "Star Wars" music, parties hearty at "Star Wars" conventions and sports a tattoo bearing the official emblem of the 501st Stormtrooper Legion Pacific Outpost complete with authentic Aurabesh lettering and his personal ID number.

"Half of the appeal (of 'Star Wars') is the myth and fantasy aspect of the story," Snyder explains. "The other half is that the bad guys just look so cool."

Snyder and his cool-looking cohorts from the local 501st are making the rounds this week in celebration of the release of "Star Wars: Episode III i Revenge of the Sith." They'll be out in full plastic regalia at Signature's Ward Stadium 18 for Thursday's 12:01 a.m. special screening, and at Consolidated's Ward 16 on Friday.

Hawaii Pacific University associate professor of law Mel Masuda is sure to take in the film at some point.

"As a die-hard fan, I must say that I don't think George Lucas can do any wrong," Masuda said. "Purists will say the quality of Episodes 1, 2 and 3 isn't as good as the original 4, 5 and 6, but that depends on your view.

"As my kids will tell you, Dad will watch anything," he said.

Historic intersection

Jon Snyder, who dresses as a TIE fighter pilot, shows off his "Star Wars" tattoo. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

He saw the original "Star Wars" just a few weeks after good friend and seminal Hawaiian activist George Helm disappeared, along with Kimo Mitchell, in the waters off Kaho'olawe while protesting the U.S. military's bombing of the island.

"We were really down because we felt the whole movement was lost," said Masuda, one of the original attorneys working with the Protect Kaho'olawe Ohana.

While Masuda is loathe to overstate the connection, he said he came away from "Star Wars" with a renewed sense of optimism.

"The film is all about good versus evil and sticking to one's goals even when it seems hopeless," Masuda said. "That gave me a lot of encouragement to just hold on.

"I don't want to make too much of it, but it was popular culture intersecting in an interesting way with a serious, real-life movement," Masuda said. "It gave me a little more grit and a little more spirit to carry on. It showed us that, hey, sometimes the good guys win."

Masuda responded to the films on other levels, too. Over the years he's collected "uku million" memorabilia pieces, from toothbrushes to fast-food promotional glasses to the vintage "Star Wars" necktie he recently wore to his business law and criminal justice classes.

"My wife thinks I'm crazy," he says.

Haunani Felix knows all about "Star Wars" mania. She's seen it firsthand in her husband, Brandon, and now her 3-year-old son Reece (See story below). While Brandon cruises E-Bay for deals on original "Star Wars" cards and toys, Reece plays with his complete set of Playskool "Star Wars" specialty toys.

"For a lot of collectors, ("Star Wars") just takes you back to a simpler time," said Brandon, who was born the same year the original film was released. "It's nostalgic."

Stormtroopin'

From left, Chris Lovewell, Anthony Sagun, Jon Snyder, Lance Hao, Tory Laitila, John Williams, Brent Carroll. The members of The Pacific Outpost enjoy getting dressed up in their stormtrooper outfits, elaborate costumes painstakingly assembled from sources near and far. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Snyder, a student at Leeward Community College, got involved with the 501st three years ago after meeting up with executive officer and operations officer Tory Laitila — that's Trooper TB-7432 to you, Sith-face — at a Halloween event.

And with new pals came a new sense of fun.

"With the guys I used to know five years ago, I'd go and get drunk in the park," Snyder said, laughing. "This is more fun — dressing up and going out, talking shop with the guys."

Or as Laitila said, "We're not all handsome, good-looking people, but that doesn't matter. You can become the character when you put the mask on."

New 501 trooper Brent Carroll, 34, donned his first stormtrooper outfit way back in 1978.

Originally from Arlington, Texas, Carroll, who is in the Army, sought out the Pacific Outpost when he arrived for his second stint in Hawai'i.

He sold his Star Wars toy collection to purchase his first Tie Fighter outfit, with parts ordered from outfitters in North Carolina and Australia. He's already at work on his second costume, a biker scout — "You know, the guys who got beat up by Ewoks in 'Return of the Jedi.' "

"It's like Christmas when those packages come in," Carroll said. "The fun is in putting (the costume) together and fine-tuning it. You can be as active with it as you want to be."

Carroll said that after 13 years of marriage, his wife is fully accustomed to his "Star Wars" addiction. Their 7-year-old son Hunter is also a fan born and bred.

Chris Lovewell, 35, a charter member of the Pacific Outpost, said there's a simple reason for Star Wars' continuing popularity.

" 'Star Wars' is a basic tale of good versus evil," Lovewell said. "They're good stories with mythical underpinnings, and everyone is enthralled by a good story."

He grew up a "Star Wars" fan, but said he wasn't "totally into it" until he started putting together the costumes. His outfits include a stormtrooper, Darth Vader and Boba Fett.

The costumes aren't cheap.

Anthony "Guns" Sagun, at 48 the self-proclaimed old man of the group, paid more than $500 for his stormtrooper outfit. He's now putting together a "screen-accurate" sand-trooper uniform for about $1,400.

Other costumes can cost upward of $3,000, depending on the quality of the parts and accessories. Some pricey firearms accessories, for example, are built from real World War II gun parts.

Sagun, who works in the firearms unit of the Honolulu Police Department, remembers the first time he saw "Star Wars." He was 21 years old, living in Sacramento, Calif., and preparing to head out to South Korea with the Air Force.

"I remember watching the movie and thinking, 'This is it, man!' "

Sagun said the first time he put on his stormtrooper uniform a year ago was just as thrilling.

"I felt like a knight of the round table," he said. "I felt like, 'I am here.' I always wanted to do it and then, almost 30 years later, I finally got to."

Sagun's 17-year-old daughter has already called dibs on the costume, which she hopes to inherit once Sagun finishes his sand-trooper outfit.

Sci-fi rivalry?

Lance Hao as Jango Fett. "Star Wars" fan organizations Rebel Legion, Fan Force and The Pacific Outpost all have members in Hawai'i. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

"They consider 'Star Trek' to be the original sci-fi, and 'Star Wars' is just soap operas," said 501 Pacific Outpost member Lance Hao, 41. "Turns out we're a lot more fun."

Laitila, who along with John Williams helped kick-start the dormant club a few years ago, fans both ways: He's a Trekkie and a "Star Wars" fan.

" 'Star Trek' fans tend to be really active," he explained. "'Star Wars' fans just come out of the woodwork when the films come out."

Laitila led a small Hawai'i contingent to the recent "Star Wars Celebration III" in Indianapolis, an event that attracted tens of thousands of "Star Wars" fans, including more than 500 costumed 501st troopers.

It was the first "Star Wars" convention for many of the local chapter, and some are still getting over it.

"I still have chicken skin," Snyder said. "It was like Halloween but with more respect."

Indeed, it takes just two magical words to bring the 501ers back to "Star Wars" Hoosier heaven: Slave Leias.

"Slave Leias!" Laitila said during a recent gathering, his face lighting up with the memory of a dozen female fans dressed in Princess Leia's most revealing and (for guys) endearing outfit.

"Slave Leias," his fellow troopers cooed reverently.

Laitila said actors from the film often seek out 501st members at "Star Wars" gatherings.

"Because we wear the costumes," he said, "we know their pain and they feel our pain."