KEEHI LAGOON PARK, Hawaii -- Sen. Barack Obama spoke to thousands of cheering people at Keehi Lagoon Park on Friday afternoon in his first return to the islands since 2006.

About 250 people were lined up by 11:20 a.m., and that number was growing by the minute. By 2 p.m., thousands of people were inside with hundreds of more people lined up to enter.

Obama's plane arrived at Honolulu International Airport at about 2:30 p.m. He made a statement there before moving on to the rally.

The weeklong visit will be mostly a vacation for Obama and his family.

"We're not here to politick we're mainly here to say thank you," Obama told the crowd.

He wanted Hawaii voters to know that he deserves their votes not just for his island roots, but for his policies, saying his energy policy will be better for oil-dependant Hawaii.

He also emphasized the importance of the military in this state.

"Not only the needs of our military, but also that our military are good guests on the islands of Hawaii," he said.

He also talked about what he carries from the islands with him.

"A lot of times reporters ask me what do you still carry with you from Hawaii," Obama told the crowd. "How does it affect your character, how does it affect your politics? I try to explain to them the Aloha Spirit."

He spent time after his speech shaking hands, taking pictures with people, signing autographs and chatting with supporters.

The Transportation Security Administration manned the gates. They checked people with metal detection wands.

A number of people parked on side streets along Lagoon Drive. Others parked at the airport parking lot and walked to the event.

The first person in line was Karen Newman, of Hawaii Kai. Newman arrived at the park at 4:40 a.m.

"It was like a Stephen King novel, it was so creepy and spooky this morning. No one was around, but a lot of stray cats," Newman said.

There were a couple of park maintenance workers who told her the park did not open until 6 a.m. So she went back to her car and waited.

"It's so embarrassing. It's like I need a life," she laughing. "I am so privilege and thrilled that we have this opportunity to witness something this historical."

The second person in line arrived an hour after the park opened.

Tony Agao, of Salt Lake, is a bus maintenance technician. He brought a copy of Obama's book "The Audacity of Hope" with him. He said he hoped to have Obama autograph it.

Agao said he supports Obama because of "his magnetism and charisma. He speaks from the heart."

Agao was able to meet Obama and get that autograph.