If you’re planning a last-minute trip to see President Barack Obama sworn in for his second term, don’t expect to get too close to the action.
Hawaii’s congressional delegation was allotted about 1,200 tickets to the Jan. 21 swearing-in ceremony in the nation’s capital, and most appear to be spoken for.
Those without tickets to the inauguration can still watch — but from "unticketed areas" in the National Mall.
Richard Rapoza, communications director for U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii, said there was a big rush after election day for Hanabusa’s 198 allotted tickets.
"They’re all gone," Rapoza said, adding that everyone who requested free tickets — in either sitting or standing sections — has been notified if they will receive them.
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono’s office is still taking requests for tickets, but it’s unclear how many are still available. (Requests can be sent to hironoinaugurationrequests@gmail.com or can be made through Hirono’s Washington, D.C., office, at 202-224-6361.)
Hirono spokesman Nathan Click said the office is trying to accommodate as many Hawaii residents as possible.
He said the tickets will likely be handed out the weekend before the Monday inauguration, which falls on Martin Luther King Day.
Hirono, D-Hawaii, and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, were each allotted 26 "seated" tickets and 365 "standing" tickets.
Malia Paul, deputy chief of staff for Schatz, said the office is getting a significant number of requests for tickets. Staffers of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye also provided the office with a list of people who had previously asked for tickets.
Schatz was named to fill Inouye’s seat after the senator’s death last month.
Paul said people who have requested tickets will be notified if they have received them within the next few days.
In the meantime, the four congressional offices are matching up their lists to ensure that there are no duplicates.
"I think we’ll be able to accommodate everybody" who had previously asked for tickets, Paul said.
It’s unclear how many islanders are making the trek to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration. Some of the free tickets are expected to go to congressional staff members.
Attendance at the inauguration overall is expected to be down from the record 1.8 million who came out to watch Obama’s swearing-in four years ago.
Festivities surrounding the inauguration will also be scaled back.
The official inauguration activities will begin with a "national day of service" Jan. 19 and end with the swearing-in and inaugural parade Jan. 21.
There will also be only two official inaugural balls on the evening of Jan. 21, compared with 10 in 2009.
