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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 11:26 a.m., Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Punahou students 'filled with pride'

Photo gallery: Punahou pride flying high today

By Mary Vorsino
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Punahou middle school students — including two on the left with their Obama T-shirts — watch on a large projection screen the events of the inauguration of one of their own, Barack Obama, as the 44th president of the United States, as Obama recites the oath of office with wife, Michelle, at his side.

BRUCE ASATO | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

More than 400 middle school students, teachers, parents and staff crowded into the Twigg-Smith Pavilion at Punahou School today to watch on a large projection screen the events of the inauguration of one of their own, Barack Obama, as the 44th president of the United States.

BRUCE ASATO | The Honolulu Advertiser

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More than 400 students, parents and teachers crammed into an auditorium at Punahou School this morning to watch Barack Obama, a Punahou alum, take the oath of office and deliver his inaugural address.

The crowd, gathered in the Twigg-Smith Pavilion, rose when Obama was sworn in and roared with applause when he took to the microphone to speak.

Victoria Eliazar, 13, said she still can't believe that Obama once walked the halls of her school and sat in lessons with some of the teachers she now listens to.

"It's a little spooky because he's a great man now leading America," Eliazar said.

Students started gathering in the pavilion around 6:30 a.m., and by 7 a.m., the auditorium was packed and students were still streaming in. Some of the adults in the crowd were brought to tears by the inauguration proceedings.

The younger people in the crowd were moved in a different way: They were excited and jubilant, showing off their Obama T-shirts and clapping loudly for the president.

"I'm filled with much pride," said Trek Mizoguchi, a seventh-grader, "as someone from Hawai'i and a graduate from Punahou School is the president of the United States."

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.