HONOLULU -- A Navy sailor stationed at Pearl Harbor invited a special guest to attend his re-enlistment ceremony. That guest said yes, and Friday Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant appeared.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in Hawaii for training camp. After practice Friday, Bryant walked into the Stan Sheriff Arena on the University of Hawaii Manoa campus to attend the re-enlistment ceremony of Navy Chief Yeoman Larry Sivils, who is part of the Navy's SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE.

Kobe led the applause when Sivils said he would build on his 19 years in the Navy by re-enlisting. Kobe seemed genuinely touched to be there.

"I'm deeply honored to be here. It goes beyond words. He has put in so many years already," Bryant said. "It's very cool to be a part of it and see his family and kids. You understand how special this is and the sacrifices that they make as a family."

Sivils' family was the first to know when Bryant answered his e-mail.

"He came in the house and he couldn't stop yelling about it. He was excited," Sivils' wife, Shelondra, said.

Sivils' friends didn't believe the Lakers star would be at his re-enlistment ceremony.

"Yeah, people were calling me this morning and saying 'Quit lying.' And I said, 'Kobe did say he would accept his invitation,'" Sivils said

Lakers practice went long so Sivils' ceremony was an hour and a half late. No one seemed to care.