WASHINGTON » The crowd at this year’s "Hawaii ball" was smaller than in 2009, and the budget not quite as lavish, but the pride and anticipation were still palpable as islanders and others gathered on the eve of today’s inaugural ceremonies to toast a native son as he prepares for big challenges ahead.
"We’re sharing the aloha spirit," said Ernie Takafuji, past president of the Hawaii State Society of Washington, D.C., which put on the event. "We’re celebrating a new time, a new term for the president."
The black-tie affair, which spilled into the early morning hours, offered a slice of Hawaii and an escape from temperatures dipping into the high 30s outside.
Guests were given kukui nut lei as they entered a ballroom at the Renaissance hotel in Arlington, Va., then danced and sang to Hawaiian music performed by Amy Hanaiali‘i, Nathan Aweau and others, and ate a Hawaii-inspired spread featuring suckling pig and poke.
Some 475 people attended, including members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation and U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, a Hawaii native. Also invited was the Kamehameha Schools band — all 96 members — who are marching in today’s inaugural parade.
The Hawaii society also put on the ball in 2009, and club President Kohono Mossman said four years has made a difference.
For Obama’s first inauguration, he said, sponsors lined up to support the fete, and Mossman had to turn some away. The society took in about $500,000 four years ago and sold more than 1,000 tickets to people from Hawaii and around the world.
This time the society used money left over from 2009, ticket sales — at $225 each — and dug into its own pockets to organize the event. "The excitement just isn’t what it was four years ago," he said, "but the pride, if anything, has grown."
It wasn’t lost on attendees what else has changed over the last four years — for Hawaii and the nation.
Obama begins his second term with a host of major domestic challenges, including the national debt, a raging debate about gun control and increased calls for comprehensive immigration reform.
Things have also changed for Hawaii. Today’s inauguration will be absent U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who died in December at 88, and retired U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka.
Takafuji, of the society, said Sunday’s ball was not only a celebration of Obama’s inauguration, but also "a welcome to our new congressional delegation," three members of whom are just beginning their terms.
The Hawaii ball was one of a number of Hawaii-inspired events seen around Washington, D.C., in the past several days, as hundreds of Hawaii residents and transplants displayed their support for a president born and raised in Hawaii.
Earlier Sunday and on Saturday, Washington, D.C.-based Halau Ho‘omau i ka Wai Ola o Hawaii performed at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian to commemorate Obama’s inauguration and to give visitors to the nation’s capital a taste of Hawaiian culture.
Dancer Napualokelani Kamakele, originally from Nanakuli, said performing so close to the White House as the capital prepares for inaugural festivities was surreal — and moving.
"It’s an honor to be able to share the Hawaiian culture," she said. "To me it symbolizes how far we’ve come as a country."
Hawaii will also be on display during inaugural festivities today: Along with Kamehameha, Punahou School, the president’s alma mater, will be marching in the inaugural parade. And hundreds of Hawaii residents will be in the crowd to support Obama at today’s ceremonial swearing-in.
At the Hawaii ball Sunday, Shinseki said attending the gathering was like being in the islands, celebrating in grand style. "Just like back home, we’re coming together," he said.
For Hawaii transplants especially, the event was a special treat — and one, several attendees pointed out, that might not come along again in a long while.
After all, when is the next time Hawaii will have its own president?
Nicole Hendrix, who grew up in Kaimuki and now lives in Virginia, said it was a special thing to be celebrating Hawaiian style as Obama begins his second term.
"It’s just nice to see some local people and share the enthusiasm about Barack Obama," she said, adding, "There’s a lot of enthusiasm here."
Between musical sets, Irv Queja, a member of the Aloha Boys, sat in the corner of the ballroom relishing some sushi.
Queja, originally from Wahiawa, was all smiles.
"The aloha spirit," he said, "it’s contagious."
