The lines were long, the forms were in short supply and rules were lax as thousands of O'ahu residents descended on polling sites to cast their ballots in last night's Democratic caucuses.

To those who typically show up at caucuses, the turnout was staggering.

William S. Richardson, former chief justice of the Hawai'i State Supreme Court, said he's participated in just about every Democratic caucus since statehood. Until last night, even the most exciting elections filled, at most, four tables in the Manoa Elementary School cafeteria, he said.

Last night, every table was full, people were lined up against the walls and a couple of thousand people were still in line outside when precinct captains began collecting ballots at 7 p.m.

Similar scenes played out across the island.

More than 1,000 people came to Mililani Waena Elementary School, forming a line that snaked around part of the campus. By 6:15 p.m., people were having a hard time finding the end of the line.

More than 500 people lined up outside the polling site at Kawananakoa Middle School in Nu'uanu by 6 p.m., with many of the voters holding signs or wearing pins for Sen. Barack Obama.

At Kapolei Middle School, 640 people showed up, compared with the 15 to 20 who cast ballots in the caucus there in 2004.

The draw for many was the opportunity to vote for Obama, who was born in Hawai'i and educated at Punahou. "I think he's doing what Tiger (Woods) is doing for golf in politics," said first-time caucus participant Phil Worl, who voted at Manoa Elementary School.

But the excitement for Obama also drew out supporters for Sen. Hillary Clinton, some of whom were aware that they were outnumbered.

"It's OK," said Kala Kamiko, a 32-year-old rental agent who held his Hillary for President sign high in the middle of the Manoa Elementary cafeteria. "I'd rather hang out with a bunch of Obama supporters than a bunch of (Republican John) McCain supporters."

With Obama supporters carrying signs, sporting buttons and passing out stickers, Kamiko felt like he needed to help Clinton out. "I want to do what I can to help Hillary in Hawai'i," he said.

A VOTE THAT MATTERED

Many participants were new to caucusing, drawn by the chance to cast a ballot that could help decide the Democratic presidential nominee.

At Kapolei Middle School's cafeteria, at least 80 people were already lined up shortly after 6 p.m. — an hour before the caucus began.

Isabel Freund, of Makakilo, was prepared to vote in her first caucus last night and was going to vote for Clinton.

"We have two very good candidates and I'm just very interested in participating tonight," Freund said. "We definitely need a change."

More than 3,200 lined up to vote at Manoa Elementary. Among them was attorney Clare Hanusz, 39, who said she probably should have participated before, but this was the first election in which she really felt it mattered.

"It's actually exciting to think that my little vote can be part of a collective change," she said.

But while Hanusz thought Obama could bring about the necessary change, Charlotte Tokunaga, a 68-year-old retired teacher and card-carrying Democrat, said she was voting for Clinton.

"I think we've given the men of the United States enough chances, and we need a woman to be president of the United States," Tokunaga said, adding that she likes Clinton's platform on education and healthcare and her experience.

"I like everything she stands for," said Tokunaga, who voted at Mililani Waena Elementary School. "I think she's a really straightforward person."

Also voting at Mililani was Errol Hahn, a 54-year-old employee with the state Department of Education. He said he was voting for Clinton.

"I want to see a woman president in my lifetime," said Hahn, who said he's been a card-carrying Democrat for years. "I want to tell my daughter that she can become president of the United States and it is not a male-dominated occupation."

Hahn also said he likes Clinton's platform on issues including education and healthcare.

He had been waiting in line for nearly an hour, but said he didn't mind.

"It's wonderful to see everybody out expressing their opinion," he said.

'WE NEED A CHANGE'

Jeremy Garrett, a 26-year-old office assistant, registered as a Democrat at Mililani for the first time last night to cast his vote for Obama.

"What brought me out here is frustration over the last eight years," he said. He waited in line for about 50 minutes to vote.

Stacey Sumida, a 27-year-old personal banker, said she never voted in a presidential election before but wanted to participate in last night's caucus because "we need a change." She also voted for Obama.

"I like his vision," she said. "I think he has a way of uniting people and bringing them together, people who come from different backgrounds and places."

Voting at Manoa was Dennis Ohta, 63, who said he wanted more than vision, although an hour before the balloting started, he was still only "probably" going to vote for Clinton because of her experience.

"When you're young, you still have too much idealism and not enough experience," he said.

Still, that idealism brought University of Hawai'i student Ben Toribio of Kaua'i out to Manoa Elementary School, where he changed his voter registration to be able to vote for Obama.

"It took someone like Obama to get me to come out," he said. "I like the way he attacks the issues and the way he's funded by the people, not the corporate elite."