Hawaii celebrated Tuesday with a unique understanding of how being black in the state may have shaped President Barack Obama and the future of the country.

At Da Wig Shop, the state's black community shared stories of unusual interracial affection, KITV's Daryl Huff reported.

"The one word that stuck out to me in the crowd would have been unity, everybody all together for one cause that is to move America forward with a new leader," said Stephen King, the barber shop's owner.

"As I was leaving, he said, 'Happy Inauguration.' And, I said, 'I'm not running for president,'" Dejuan Isaac said.

They credited Hawaii with Obama's inclusiveness and saw the images from Washington as proof that the spirit is spreading.

"People of every racial background were embracing each other and really making the inauguration an event for all," Marvin Reeves said.

"That kind of gives me hope for my children as well," said Mary Wilson, who watched with her twin 5-year-olds the oath of office administered.

At John Scott's hot dog stand, the solemn tone of the inaugural speech was a challenge to rise together.

"The hope is up so high on this guy, everybody looking at him like he's a God, and he's trying to let everybody know that, 'Hey, we can do it, I can't do it (alone)," Scott said.

"He has inspired a nation, a world of people to become more of what we are capable of doing," said Alphonso Braggs, president of the NAACP Hawaii.

"It's going to be a struggle, an uphill battle for him to fix everything," Magan Bautista said.

"It's just good to be in America right now," Stephen King said.