Some 400 gleeful Punahou School students crowded into an auditorium yesterday to see someone who graduated from the campus 30 years ago — and had some of the same teachers they do today — be sworn in as president of the United States.

After Barack Obama took the oath of office yesterday, the students (who were already standing) filled the Twigg-Smith Pavilion with a resounding, minute-long roar of applause as a few teachers and parents wiped tears from their eyes.

"Just watching the entire crowd and the energy was really uplifting," said 13-year-old Maya Reid, smiling. She also said the fact that Obama came out of Punahou School and Hawai'i to become president is an "added thing" that inspires her.

If it wasn't before, it was clear after the live viewing of the inauguration yesterday that Obama's presidency is a huge source of pride for even the youngest students at Punahou. And for some students, especially the older ones, it is also strangely surreal that Obama once walked the same halls that they do today.

"It's a little spooky because he's a great man now leading America," said Victoria Eliazar, 13, after watching from the school as Obama gave his inaugural address. She added that thinking of Obama as a Punahou graduate "moves me."

Students started filing into the auditorium about 6:30 a.m., many wearing red, white and blue for the occasion or Obama T-shirts. Within 30 minutes, the auditorium was full, and students were still streaming in to sit on the floor.

Adele Uyehara and her 9-year-old daughter, Lauren, got prime spots on the highest row of the auditorium to watch the inauguration on a big screen. Uyehara said she wanted to be sure she caught the historic moment with her daughter.

"I wanted us to remember this day," Uyehara said.

Lauren Uyehara, smiling broadly, summed up the day this way: "It's exciting."

Shannon Knox also attended the viewing with her daughter, 7-year-old Maia.

Knox said her daughter may not yet fully understand the gravity of Obama's presidency. But, Knox said, she will one day. And when she does, she'll remember she was in Obama's old stomping grounds, the place where he attended fifth to 12th grade (from 1971 to 1979), when she saw him being sworn in as president.

"I just wanted her to know that it was very important," Knox said.

The live viewing of the inauguration yesterday for Punahou students was the kick-off of an all-day string of events related to the festivities in Washington.

In English classes, students deconstructed Obama's address. In math classes, they calculated the size of the deficit Obama faces. They looked at Obama's pledges regarding global warming in science courses, and some gathered for a special assembly at midday to rewatch parts of his speech and past inaugurations.

Mike Walker, principal of the junior school at Punahou, said the lessons are meant to drive home the importance of "what they just saw — a peaceful transfer of power." He added that the overarching theme for the day is that anything is possible.

What better way, he asked, to show students how far they can go than by showing them someone — once just like them — overcoming barriers to achieve the nation's highest office.

"The theme for me is potential realized," Walker said.

After the inauguration, the crowd inside the Punahou auditorium gathered outside for a quick breakfast and to chat about what they had just seen. Some were talking about Obama's speech and others were marveling at Obama's list of firsts: first African-American president, first president from Hawai'i.

"I thought the speech was very uplifting. He wasn't blaming people," said Kimberly Low, an eighth-grader. She added that she can't really imagine Obama walking the same campus she does now or listening to some of the same teachers.

Still, she said, the fact that Obama is a Punahou graduate is big for her.

"It tells me we can achieve our goals," she said.

Seventh-grader Trek Mizoguchi wore a big American flag hat to the viewing party.

"I'm filled with much pride," he said, "as someone from Hawai'i and a graduate from Punahou School is the president of the United States."