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Hawaii State Society Inaugural Ball
Information about the Hawaii State Society Inaugural Ball
In Washington DC on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.
Hawaii State Society Inaugural Ball
DATE: January 20,2009 (Tuesday)
TIME: 7:00 P.M.
VENUE: Mandarin Oriental Hotel
TICKETS; $200
CAPACITY: 750 to 1000
not official sanctioned but they hope Obama will attend
His sister Maya Soetoro-Ng was hoped to attend
organizers asked Hailama Farden to write an oli
(chant) that is to be performed only in Obama's presence
(if he attends)
Hawaiian musical artists Raiatea Helm, Kohala
and Keale - who will be performing at the ball -
have penned an original song called
"Hawaii's Gift," to be played during Obama's
dance with his wife, Michelle.
all 750 tickets sold out
The Hawaii State Society is new to this
and may not have been prepared for all the
hoopla. When society members began planning
earlier this year, they went with what they
could afford: a $250,000 affair for 750
people
The 750 tickets were priced at $200. Some
are selling online for $1,200 to $2,000.
event that will feature Asian-Pacific cuisine,
an open bar and entertainment from six acts,
including five flying in from Hawaii.
Since they can't squeeze any more people into
the Mandarin, Mossman and Penland met yesterday
with hotel staff to make the experience larger.
Plans now include a live feed from the party
by a major network and live streaming from a
simultaneous ball in Hawaii. Ideas for decorations
have gone from native Hawaiian floral arrangements
to volcanoes and a waterfall.
the Hui Moku’aina O Hawai’i Ma Wakinekona,
Moku’aina O Kolumepia (that is, the Hawaii
State Society of Washington, D.C.) will be
having its inaugural ball.
Will Mr. Obama show up? Nobody knows. The ball
has not been sanctioned by the Presidential
Inaugural Committee. Official status would put
the Hawaii Society on Mr. Obama’s list for sure,
but even if the ball stays unofficial, Micah
Kohono Mossman, its chairman, is hoping that the
new President drops by anyway, being a native son and all.
there could be a downside to having an officially
sanctioned party: the rules you have to follow about
food, drinks and entertainment.
PERFORMERS:
Raiatea Helm
Eddie Kamae
Aunty Genoa Ohana Ensemble
Kohala
Walter Keale with Donald Kaulia
HONORARY CHAIRS:
Daniel K. Inouye, U.S. Senate
Daniel K. Akaka, U.S. Senate
Lingle Lingle, U.S. Governor
Neil Abercrombie, Member of Congress
Mazie K. Hirono, Member of Congress
See also:
More of Hawaii's Obama Inaugural Balls
The 10 Official Obama Inaugural Balls
About Barack Obama and His Hawaii Connection/a>
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