As cameras whirred and reporters fired off questions, Ella Kate McKinney slept peacefully in her mom's arms yesterday, oblivious of her star status as O'ahu's first baby of 2009.

Baby McKinney was born at 12:22 a.m. yesterday, after her mom labored for more than 18 hours. Ella Kate tipped the scales at 6 pounds, 3 ounces, and also was being touted as Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children's first baby born in its centennial year for pediatrics.

"It's overwhelming and exciting," said Ella Kate's mom, Rachel Campbell, 23. "She waited to be famous — to be the first one. She's racked up all kinds of points."

Babies at other area hospitals all waited until just before dawn, making Ella Kate clearly the first baby of 2009.

Ella Kate, whose name is from her father's side of the family — named after grandmothers Kathyrn and Eleanor — was due Jan. 6. Because of pregnancy complications, Campbell said, she came to Kapi'olani to be induced and thought that her baby would arrive on New Year's Eve.

But throughout the day, either mom or baby had trouble, and it wasn't until about 11:30 p.m. that Ella Kate decided she wanted to make an appearance.

"She was just waiting for the right time," Campbell said. "She has my dark hair and his ears and nose. That's all I can see so far."

A freshly showered mom greeted media with her husband, Andrew McKinney, a Navy petty officer. They have a son, Asher, who has already met his sister and can't wait to play with her, Andrew McKinney said.

The Makakilo family received a basket from the hospital commemorating Ella Kate's birth.

"It will be fun for her to have a holiday for her birthday, and to always have the day off," said Andrew McKinney, 24.