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HONOLULU — An Army officer from Honolulu who challenged the Bush administration’s reasons for going to war in Iraq and then refused to deploy says he has followed his sworn duty and moral compass.

Addressing more than 100 supporters, 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, 28, said he followed his heart and understands that to live with a clear conscience he’ll have to face the legal repercussions.

“As leaders, as officers, we must stick our necks our and take that first step,” he said.

In his first visit back to Hawaii from Fort Lewis, Wash., since being charged by the military, Watada said he couldn’t participate in what he considers an “illegal war.”

Despite the possibility of a prison sentence, he followed the oath he took as an officer to obey the Constitution, Watada said, receiving several standing ovations at Church of the Crossroads.

“I have challenged an illegal and immoral policy on behalf of those who cannot or are unwilling to speak,” Watada said. “This is the responsibility of a leader and I assure you I am not alone.”

Saying there have been other times in history when men and women have refused to go to war, he encouraged everyone to learn all they can about the military action in Iraq.

“I know my decision has divided the community. That was never my intent. I know my decision has been the source of much controversy, and that is good,” he said.

Many at the church wore T-shirts, signs and buttons.

“I really do appreciate when these men and women step up and say, ‘I will risk going to jail because this war is wrong and I will not participate in it,”’ said retired Army Col. Ann Wright, who resigned as a senior diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Mongolia in 2003 to protest the Iraq war.

Watada was temporarily released from a travel restriction so he could return to Hawaii and spend time with family and friends.

While assigned to the Army’s first Stryker Brigade Combat Team, he refused to go to Iraq after conducting research and deciding the war was illegal. He said he would be willing to serve in Afghanistan or elsewhere.

The Army refused to let him resign his commission because his unit is covered by a stop-loss policy and he has not fulfilled his service obligation.

Reassigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, I Corps, he now works in an administrative position. His pretrial hearing is Jan. 4 and his court-martial on Feb. 5 at Fort Lewis.

He was initially charged with missing troop movement, conduct unbecoming an officer and contempt toward officials — the third charge for his comments about President Bush.

The Army dropped the contempt charge, then added another specification of conduct unbecoming an officer based on his comments in Seattle during the national convention of Veterans for Peace in August.

If convicted of all charges, Watada could serve six years in confinement and be dismissed from the service.

His lawyer, Eric Seitz, said the hearing should be moved to a larger courtroom so supporters can attend.