DENVER — It was almost unanimous.

Hawai'i delegates to the Democratic National Convention, including those pledged to U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, voted for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois yesterday as the party's presidential nominee.

The only holdout? Richard Port, the state Democratic National Committeeman, a superdelegate not bound to any candidate but who had endorsed Clinton.

Other delegates had approached Port, a former state party chairman with a history of independence, this week to line up with Obama so the Hawai'i-born Democrat would have unanimous support from the Islands.

Two other superdelegates who had endorsed Obama — U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai'i, and U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i — missed the vote because they did not make it to the convention floor in time.

So Hawai'i's delegation was officially recorded as 26 votes for Obama, one vote for Clinton and two blank votes.

"It's a Democratic process and our delegates are free to vote as their conscience dictates," said Brian Schatz, chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawai'i.

Schatz said he was particularly proud that U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, who had endorsed Clinton, led the delegation on the floor.

Many of the delegates were dressed in aloha attire and waved state flags when they were introduced to the convention.

Inouye and Kari Luna, a Maui educator and vice chair of the state party, made the presentation.

"My fellow Americans, my fellow Democrats, Hawai'i, the land of aloha and love, birthplace of our next president of the United States, is proud to cast for our native son, the following votes," Inouye said.

"We proudly cast 26 votes for the next president of the United States, Sen. Barack Obama, and one vote for Sen. Hillary Clinton," Luna said.

The roll call votes by states started with Alabama and ended with New York, when Clinton asked that the convention back Obama's nomination by acclamation.

Obama, who is now officially the party's nominee, will give his acceptance speech tonight at Invesco Field in Mile High Stadium.