The polite crowd, estimated at 3,000, waited patiently at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tapa Tower yesterday morning.

Then a minor mob scene ensued.

Pandemonium kicked in as members of the press contingent tripped over themselves and the dividing rope, while autograph seekers, onlookers and photographers, amateur and pro, waded in for a closer look and a photo op.

Hilton hotel security, which has handled numerous events of this sort, appeared to be momentarily caught off guard as they quickly moved to separate visitors, common gawkers, media reps, and "Lost" stars.

"We didn't expect this," said Dara Young, public relations manager for the hotel.

Order was more or less restored at the insistence of hotel security personnel, who brought in bullhorns for crowd control and to keep the donor line moving.

"I've done lots of these things, but this is unusual," said Lani Bjork, director of safety and security for the hotel, who has provided security for presidents, potentates and major rock stars.

"The problem is that the line's got to keep moving."

That line, three and four abreast, snaked its way from an area near the Tapa Bar and wound through the Tapa Tower and all the way out to Kalia Road.

For two hours the most laid- back members of the whole assembly were the 10 cast members who happily signed cast pictures, shook hands, visited with donors and — most importantly — collected $20,250 for the Red Cross.

Adewale Akinnouye-Agbaje, who plays new character Emeka, told autograph seekers that he has friends living on the Gulf Coast who were affected by Hurricane Katrina.

"If you can, give," he told one man. "If you can't give, still give."

And everyone who came through the line did give — many generously. After that, some gave still again.

Donna Belliveau of Kailua, was one of several people who went through the line twice.

"Let's not forget the purpose of all this," said Belliveau, who confessed she's a huge fan of the show. "I wanted to help the victims of the hurricane."

Josh Holloway, who plays Sawyer on "Lost," and who was the only southpaw among those sitting at the cast table, said he couldn't remember when he had scribbled his name so many times.

Jill Becker, American Red Cross Hawai'i Chapter director of finance, said in addition to the generosity of everyone who went through the line, there were a number of $200 to $500 donors, and five people coughed up $1,000 each.

"This is just awesome," said Becker. "Two hours of chaos and we're outta here."

University of Hawai'i history major Julia Koga, 29, was the first person through the line. As such she got her photograph taken with the person she most wanted to meet — Dominic Monaghan, who has also starred in "Lord of the Rings" movies.

"I'm so excited I can't think straight," said Koga, who got her first-place position simply by arriving at 9:30 a.m. and asking someone with the "Lost" crew where the line started, and seeing nobody standing there, stepped up and waited.

Jennifer Kellerman of Dayton, Ohio, arrived late and gave up on tackling such a long line. Instead she opted for trying to snare a photo of the cast from behind the roped off area, where the vantage point was not too good.

More than once she had been chased off from a better position by security, she said.

"The problem is we won't get an autograph," said Kellerman, who nevertheless made a $20 Red Cross donation.

Back in the line, Kathy Murray of Santa Barbara, Calif., said she was willing to stand in line for as long as it took.

"Well, the show's fun to watch," said Murray, 40.

"And, as long as I've lived in Southern California I've never done the autograph thing. So, I guess as long as you're in Hawai'i, you might as well do the touristy thing."

At the very end of the line Kalai Kamauoha of Papakokea stood by herself. Kamauoha, 21, said she did not mind being last in line. She said she thought going through the line might be the best opportunity she'd get to meet the cast of the show.

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.