"We warmly welcome our navy sailors and officers from the motherland," said a large sign in Chinese. It was put high on a chain-link fence by several men, including Chengueng "Chester" Ma, leader of four journalists from the China Daily, the English-language newspaper in China.
The four are here on Parvin/Freedom Forum yearlong fellowships at the University of Hawaii and East-West Center.
Yesterday's arrival heralded the ships' four-day tour here, the first visit of the Chinese Navy in Hawaii since a ship called at Pearl Harbor in 1989. That visit by the training ship Zheng He was the first of a People's Liberation Army navy ship to a U.S. port following the 1949 China revolution.
As the gray destroyer Harbin neared the pier with a tug escort about 9:45 a.m. yesterday, a hula troupe went into action. Soon a U.S. Navy band struck up as the 468-foot vessel reached the pier.
The destroyer Zhuhai and oiler Nancang arrived soon after.
"I'm very excited, and I'm very proud of this visit, because you see I am a student studying here," said Zhu Xiao Hui, 24. "In a foreign land I can see the ship(s) from our own country, and I'm very excited." The master's candidate in accounting hails from Shijiazhuang in Hebei Province.
Enthusiasm of spectators was almost equaled by that of Vice Adm. Yong Guo Wang, South Sea Fleet commander, People's Liberation Army Navy.
Responding to pleasantries from Adm. Archie Clemins, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander-in-chief, Wang spoke with vigor.
Da You Li, China's ambassador to the United States, said: "It's an important event in the relations between our two nations."
Earlier, Clemins, whose remarks were interpreted in Chinese, said an upcoming visit to San Diego by the trio of ships would be the first ever by the Chinese Navy. "Sailors the world around share a unique bond," he said.
"With $56 billion in trade annually between us, China and the United States have a shared stake in maintaining peace and prosperity throughout the region."
But ties go deeper than economics, Clemins said. "Today, there are over 2 million Americans of Chinese ancestry in the United States, which gives us strong emotional ties as well."
The USS Crommelin, a guided missile fast frigate, fielded the U.S. team; the Chinese side was an all-star team from the three visiting Chinese ships. When it was over, nothing but mutual admiration remained.
"I would say they were extremely evenly matched," said Petty Officer 1st Class Bryan Logan.
Through an interpreter, one Chinese sailor said he was enjoying beautiful Hawaii and the casual atmosphere of yesterday's post-soccer picnic. The picnic, attended by some 800 people, launched four days of activities here for the visiting Chinese crews. The tentative itinerary includes:
Today: USS Arizona Memorial tour; public tour of Chinese ships; basketball at Bloch Arena.
Tomorrow: USS Arizona Memorial tour; noon concert; 1-4 p.m. public tour of Chinese ships; 3 p.m. volleyball at Bloch Arena.
Wednesday: USS Arizona Memorial tour; 9:30 a.m. Kodak hula show at Waikiki Shell.
Thursday: 8 a.m. departure for San Diego.