HONOLULU -- Two Hawaii families welcomed home their newly adopted children after traveling thousands of miles to bring them to from their orphanage.

They are the first families in the U.S. to adopt from a small South African country where the average life expectancy is 38 to 40 years old.

The two families arrived in Hawaii exhausted but elated.

Excited family and friends greeted them with welcome home signs and open arms.

The Hays family warmly welcomed little Naomi who wore her first Hawaiian lei and the Racela family brought home their first child, 1-year-old Max.

"They had a little ceremony and they carried him out and they presented him to us. So that was really special," Kelly Racela said.

"I couldn't believe that he was mine. You know, everything we went through, the whole ordeal to get over there, all the paperwork. Just to have him come out and they hand him to us. It's unlike anything I've ever felt," John Racela said.

The process to adopt Max began this past May. Kristine Altwies heads the adoption agency Hawaii International Child.

"We're the only U.S. agency licensed to work in the southern African country," said Altwies.

Altwies asked that KITV not release the name of the small African country, to protect the privacy of the orphanage.

"It's a small country about the size of Hawaii, with the highest HIV-AIDS rate in the world," Altwies said. "So more than ever, there's a need there for orphans to have families and for permanency.

Many of the adopted children are orphaned as a result of AIDS related deaths in their families.

The country has nearly 100,000 families currently headed by children under the age of 16.

The Racelas said they already know how fortunate they are to bring home the son they've always wanted.

As Max makes new friends and grows into his new family they said he too will learn how blessed he is.

"Love brought us home. Love on all sides," Kelly said.

All children are tested for HIV prior to adoption.

The Racelas are also on track to adopt from China.