A sit-in at the office of University of Hawai'i President David McClain by students and faculty opposing a Navy research center stretched into its second night with McClain agreeing to spend today meeting with small groups of protesters at the administration building.

By late afternoon yesterday the ranks of protesters was growing with the addition of Native Hawaiian students wearing red shirts and adding their own flags of protest. Some of the strongest objections to the Navy research proposal have come from Native Hawaiians.

Campus security forces were monitoring the situation.

More than 35 protesters were peaceful as they initially pitched about eight tents Thursday on the lawn next to Bachman Hall. They hung banners opposing military research from the indoor railing, occupied McClain's office and demanded that he sign a statement opposing creation of a Navy research center that could include classified research.

McClain has declined to do so.

Opposition has been wide-ranging, based on concerns that the research could involve secret weapons projects and objections to constraints on academic freedom and the right to publish. Other issues are Native Hawaiian concerns that a Navy research center would "fuel military expansion and its negative impacts on the land and people of Hawai'i," according to an official statement from opponents.

"We'll stay as long as necessary," said Ikaika Hussey, a graduate student and an opposition leader. "Our resolve is strong and our numbers are growing. We're starting to receive solidarity statements from other community groups and those on the Mainland and overseas."