In 1995, No Doubt first set foot in Hawaii as the opening act for ska genre-mates 311 in a small, now non-existent Honolulu club. Fourteen years later, the band returned for a headlining visit on Tuesday night, playing to a sold-out crowd of about 9,000 fans at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena.

But for fans who gathered for No Doubt's 2009 reunion -- some with barely enough age to have seen No Doubt's first Hawaii show -- the musical chemistry of the group as a whole seemed unmatchable during their summer tour's last stop.

The show's most unique touch was a cover of 'DJs,' a track by fellow SoCal ska band Sublime. It was introduced as simply "an island favorite" by Gwen Stefani and was played with a tribute to the synth-and-trumpet arrangements popular in contemporary Hawaiian music. However, the song also delved back to the band's '90s beginnings, as it had often been played during the 'Tragic Kingdom' tour. Stefani and late Sublime frontman Brad Nowell were longtime friends, and resurrecting the 'DJs' cover was a subtle homage to their beloved musical peer.

Other memorable highlights included 'Stand and Deliver,' the band's new single and a remake of the 1981 Adam and the Ants hit. Drummer Adrian Young -- clad in nothing but striped tights and a tutu -- led the band in a cavalry percussion intro, with Stefani, bassist Tony Kanal, guitarist Tom Dumont, trumpeter Stephen Bradley and trombonist Gabrial McNair all trading their respective instruments for sticks and drums. Bradley and McNair also shined on 'Guns of Navarone,' a cover of a Skatalites instrumental track and the theme song of the film of the same name.

Of course, it was Stefani's show in the end. Her trademark trill effortlessly riled the audience with classics like 'Spiderwebs' and incited a gender-battle sing-off during 'Just a Girl.' It was a fitting return to the 50th state for the group, who haven't played here since 2002 (although Stefani performed a set of solo dates in 2007). Even though a tropical storm threat hovered beyond the Blaisdell doors, both No Doubt and their Hawaii fans reveled in the steady rocking show.