Cars were backed up on Dole Street yesterday with students carrying belongings into their dorm rooms for the fall 2007 version of the "Manoa Move-In."

Hale Aloha towers opened its doors at 9 a.m. to incoming University of Hawai'i-Manoa freshmen yesterday and by 3 p.m., about 80 percent of them had settled into their rooms.

About 900 upperclassmen moved into Hale Noelani and Wainani residence halls later in the evening, and 1,500 are expected today. More are expected to trickle in before school starts on Monday.

The centralized check-in process — volunteers help unload luggage from cars in a "drop-off" area, allowing parents or students to park their cars and proceed to check-in — is the quickest and most efficient way to move students into dorms, said student housing coordinator Matthew Savage.

"When we have new freshman students, they are always excited and motivated to get here early," Savage said. "They're looking forward to the start of their college experience."

New Jersey resident Ralph Daggan, 50, stood beside his son's luggage at the drop off area while he checked in.

"We got here around quarter to 9 and we unloaded by 9:15," said Daggan. "It's a good system they have here. I'm very impressed so far."

His son, Tim, who will be residing in Lehua, said he hasn't experienced any problems yet. The 18-year-old said he always wanted to move away from home and into a dorm.

"I saw my older sister move in (a dorm in Pennsylvania), so I can't believe it's actually my turn," said Tim, a kinesology and leisure science major. "I'm looking forward to starting up school."

Zane Dulin, from New Mexico, said he also is excited to leave home.

"I like the location and it's actually closer to the area I want to study in — archaeology in Japan and China," said Dulin, 18.

But he's nervous about meeting his new rooomate, who is a Hawai'i resident. Dulin hopes his new roomie will show him the best eateries in town.

"But I feel good. I'm finally getting away from him," Zane joked, pointing to his father.

Paul Dulin, 56, said he'll miss his son, who he's proud of.

"Today, he is a man," Paul Dulin said. "He was living in my house, but now he's living on his own."

Indiana resident Pam Beuchel, 49, waited with her huband and her son's girlfriend as 19-year-old Robert checked into Ilima. Pam Beuchel said it was hard to let go, even though she's been through the experience before.

"I had three girls that went to schools in Indiana or Ohio, but this is the farthest," said Pam, struggling to hold back tears. "It's my youngest one and my son, my only son — so it's hard."

It'll take seven years for Robert to get a degree in the architecture program, but his mother said it'll be worth it.

"It's going to be a long time, but it'll be a nice place to visit," said Pam, who plans to visit Hawai'i a couple of times each year.

Wahiawa resident Chris Choi, 18, said he was nervous and excited to move into Lokelani. The nursing major said it will be a good experience to live in a dorm and avoid long commutes to school.

"It's not as busy as I thought it would be, but the line for the cars is really long," Choi said.

His mother, Helene, 51, said the line into Hale Aloha was bad so she jumped out of the car and left her husband waiting in traffic for 15 minutes. She said the registration process went smoothly.

"It's easy to follow because they have the information desk up front and they just tell you where to go and everything's labeled," said Helene, who planned on visiting her son's room and spraying it with disinfectants.