HONOLULU - The 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) will attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the largest group hug during a deployment ceremony Aug. 16 at Aloha Stadium.

The Hawai'i Army National Guard's 29th IBCT will be heading to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. About 1,700 soldiers will deploy. The 29th IBCT is made up of a headquarters company, and cavalry, field artillery, brigade support, and special troops battalions and the 100th/442nd Infantry of the U.S. Army Reserve.

The mission for this deployment will be two-fold, reserve officials said: The troops will provide security at several installations in Kuwait and will be the security force for units convoying north to Iraq.

The 29th IBCT was mobilized in August 2004 and deployed to Iraq in 2005.

Families and friends are invited to attend the deployment ceremony to recognize Hawai'i's deploying warriors, organizers said.

"We are going to send off our 29th IBCT and the 100th, 442nd Infantry again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Maj. Gen. Lee. "The departure ceremony is an opportunity for loved ones to say goodbye to our soldiers as one unit in Aloha Stadium."

The event is set for 11a.m. Aug.16 at Aloha Stadium. Gates will open at 8 a.m. and parking for the event will be $1 per person, ages 12 and over. Many companies and organizations such as The Elks Club, Tri-West, BAE Systems, USO, Girl Scouts of America and others will donate bentos and drinks for the deploying Soldiers and their families. Upon the conclusion of the deployment ceremony, there will be an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest group hug.

The idea to set the group hug record was suggested by Ashley Kakazu, a 11-year-old Punahou Case Middle school student. Once the deployment ceremony is complete, the Soldiers on the field and their families in the stands will join over 6,000 people for the record breaking attempt. The current world record is 6,623 and was set in Mexico. Participants will need to get into one continuous ring formation for the record to be valid.

Photos and documentation of the hug will be taken and sent to Guinness officials for verification before the record is official. Kakazu, who is serving as the group hug organizer and has a strong desire to raise awareness about hunger in Hawai'i families, is asking that all participants also bring a canned good for donation to the Hawai'i Food Bank.

In order to be a part of the hug, participants can find more information and pre-register online at www.grouphughawaii.com.