Alabama-born Mary Hobson was born the same year as the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955.

Now 53 years old and a Hauula resident, she feels she has come a long way from having to sit in the back of theaters, or being forced to eat in the kitchen.

”;I've always had hope,”; Hobson said. “;You can't survive as a black person in America without hope. But now we can see the evidence that says that God has heard our prayers, seen our tears and come to the rescue.”;

She referred to President Barack Obama's inauguration, which she witnessed on TV at Don Ho's Bar & Grill at Aloha Tower Marketplace early this morning.

About 180 people joined Kaneohe residents Ed and Ruth Auld, organizers of today's gathering. Ed Auld, 68, said he wanted to put together a viewing party because he was wanted to be at least a small part of the historical moment.

”;On election night, we sat in our living room just the two of us, and I felt like I was on the sidelines, watching all of those people celebrating,”; Auld said.

Auld said he put the event on Obama's Web site, my.barackobama.com, and was glad to see the Internet word-of-mouth spread.

”;Got a little carried away as usual,”; he said, pointing to the crowd.

When Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were taking their oath, a woman told others at the restaurant, “;We stand with them.”; The local crowd stood up.

Lehua Kai, 33, of Haleiwa, made the early-morning trek because she is part of a media production company trying to capture the inaugural celebrations around the world. But she also wanted to see what Obama would say about the economy.

”;We're all feeling the pinch,”; Kai said. “;It'll just be nice to see how he's going to make it happen.”;

Kahaluu resident Don Caindec, 73, said he swelled with pride seeing a Hawaii-born man sworn in as president.

Caindec said Obama's speech impressed him and that it was what the nation needed to hear.

”;It was very far-reaching,”; Caindec said. “;It's a great hope for the future, and we can only go up from here.”;

During Pastor Rick Warren's invocation in Washington, D.C., Hobson was seen praying and raising her hands into the air.

”;This is God's doing,”; Hobson said. “;It's time for all mankind to be restored to the love (that) God intended for us to have to one another. I pray we will seize the moment.”;

Hobson has been unemployed for the past six months since leaving her job due to stress and other reasons. She hopes to go to back to school to earn a master's degree, so it was comforting to hear Obama focus so much on the economy.

Hobson said she sees new hope for racial healing with Obama's inauguration.

”;I see hope for the black man more than anything,”; Hobson said. “;I have a son, a husband, grandson. I am so encouraged today. America needs the healing, and the world needs to see it.”;