The first Hawaiian Islands Honor Flight brought a group of veterans to the nation's capital, where they were greeted with a taste of home — a warm, feel-good moment for the veterans and their families.

• Veterans and their guardians were honored at a welcome dinner in Washington after flying thousands of miles from Hawaii.
• A D.C.-based hālau performed hula and songs from the veterans' own era, closing with a presentation of lei.
• Maria Corpuz, a Hawaii-born Army colonel stationed in Washington, came to perform and called it overwhelming to be around the people who paved the way.
• She unexpectedly ran into a Vietnam veteran from her hometown of Hilo who used to play chess with her father and remembered her as a child.

Outlook: With the first flight a success, more Hawaii veterans are likely to make the trip on future Honor Flights.