WASHINGTON — People with links to Hawai'i who live in the Washington area are opening their homes to musicians performing at the Hawai'i State Society's first presidential inaugural ball tomorrow.

"It's part of the aloha spirit to host these people," said Dan Lehman, of Arlington, Va. "I think that is pretty much what it is all about."

Lehman and his wife, Karen Uemoto, who is originally from Hawai'i, are hosting five entertainers — The Auntie Genoa Ohana Ensemble — at their home. The five entertainers are among the 24 who will be performing at the ball.

Most of the rest of the performers are staying with state society members throughout the area.

Members Michael and Barbara Wright of Falls Church, Va., are hosting the four musicians who are the "sons" in the group Eddie Kamae and the Sons of Hawai'i.

"We have met a number of people from Hawai'i, and all of them have been so nice and generous to us," Michael Wright said. "This kind of returns that favor, maybe in spirit."

The host families became involved early in the project when society members decided to put on their first presidential inaugural ball but had no money, said Sarah Ulis, president of the state society.

Ulis told the members she could get entertainers to perform at the ball free of charge, but they needed a place to stay.

"The artists were used to being put up in hotels with an allowance for food and all," Ulis said. "I had to explain to them that we just couldn't do that. I said there were so many Hawaiian (families) here that they would feel very comfortable."

Michael Wright said he and others volunteered because they wanted the inaugural ball to be successful.

"This was the best way we could do it," he said. "Hawaiians are very friendly and family-oriented, and staying in someone's house to them is just like staying with friends."

Glen Hirabayashi, who was born on O'ahu and now lives in Oak Hills, Va., is a member of a local group, The Aloha Boys, that will play at the ball and also will host the acoustic guitar trio Kohala, who are coming from Hawai'i to play at the ball.

Hirabayashi said he and his wife, Donna, have hosted members of the group before when they were in town to play at Wolf Trap National Park.

"We have had various entertainers coming from Hawai'i who stay at the house, and it's always great fun," said Hira- bayashi.

Hirabayashi has worked with the U.S. Tax Court for almost two decades.

He usually plays 'ukulele with The Aloha Boys, but said he'll play bass or guitar if needed. The group met in 1996 while playing music for their children, who were learning hula at Halau O 'Aulani in Arlington.

Eddie Kamae and his wife, Myrna, are staying with Thomas Penland, who is one of the ball's organizers, in Falls Church.

"We love having them," Penland said. "It's a thing that Hawaiians do best — open their doors and welcome their friends in."

Penland said his home would be used as a transportation gathering point for the musicians because large crowds and tight security are going to make it difficult to get in and out of Washington. The society is renting a 32-passenger bus and using radio communication to move people around, he said.

The ball will begin at 7 p.m. and run until the last performance around midnight, when all the entertainers will perform on stage together.