More people than ever are expected to show up in Washington, D.C., to see Honolulu-born Barack Obama sworn in as the nation's 44th president on Jan. 20.

Hotels are already booked in states surrounding Washington, D.C., as more than 1 million people are planning to witness the inauguration at the National Mall.

The biggest inauguration crowd was the approximately 1.2 million people who saw Lyndon Johnson sworn into office in January 1965, said U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai'i.

With even more people expected for Obama's inauguration, "The National Park Service plans to erect a number of giant TV screens on the National Mall so people can watch the inauguration and the inaugural parade," Akaka said in a statement yesterday. "Officials are also eliminating many reserved bleacher seats along the parade route to make room for people without tickets."

Tickets to the inauguration are free but are only distributed through members of Congress or the Presidential Inaugural Committee, according to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

"The public should also be aware that no Web site or other ticket outlet actually has inaugural swearing-in tickets to sell, regardless of what they may claim," the committee said in a statement. "Tickets will not be distributed to congressional offices until the week before the inauguration and will require in-person pickup."

"Any Web site or ticket broker claiming that they have inaugural tickets is simply not telling the truth," Howard Gantman, staff director for the committee, said in a statement. "Tickets for the swearing-in of (the) president-elect are all provided through members of Congress, and the president-elect and vice president-elect through the Presidential Inaugural Committee. We urge the public to view any offers of tickets for sale with great skepticism."

The head of the sold-out Hawai'i Inaugural Ball, which has been called the hottest ticket in Washington, D.C., continues to get bombarded with requests for the $200 tickets. The ball sold out its 900 tickets three days after Obama's historic election.

"My son had surgery last Wednesday, so I've been wrapped up with him and unfortunately dropped this ball (no pun intended) PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE tell me I can now purchase the 6 tickets," one person wrote in an e-mail to Kohono Mossman, the chairman of the ball. "I'll be holding my breath waiting for your reply!"

Another could not hide her anger when Mossman told her no more tickets were available.

"We donated, made calls, and otherwise supported the Obama campaign when he was running against Hillery (sic), but now when we can travel to DC to participate there is no room for the original supporters. Politics as usual!! Perhaps you should consider expanding the ball. Our check is in the mail so I expect it to be returned. ... Another disappointment for the middle class as usual!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

And one simply pleaded for mercy: "What do I now tell my wife?" he wrote Mossman.

But for every angry e-mail, Mossman said they are far outnumbered by messages of support and encouragement, even from people who are disappointed they can't attend the ball.

"Ones like this are very nice," Mossman said:

"If I don't hear from you — have an absolutely wonderful time!!! Life is so good, right now, isn't it? I hope this feeling lasts a very long time."

Another group is trying to organize what it's calling a "pre-inaugural" Hawai'i-themed ball for Jan. 18 called the "Aloha Inaugural Ball."

Details were still being worked out yesterday, but the organizers have booked the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C., and plan to sell tickets for $250 each.

They still were figuring out how many people can be accommodated but estimated there will be "thousands of people," compared with the 900 expected at the Hawai'i Inaugural Ball being produced by the Hawaii State Society of Washington, D.C.

The Aloha Inaugural Ball is being organized by former Obama campaign workers, including Radford High grad Gloria Borland, who produced a documentary on Obama's years growing up in Honolulu.

The theme of the Aloha Inaugural Ball will be the Hawai'i that Obama experienced in the 1970s, Borland said.

"It's all about the effect that growing up in Hawai'i had on him, the diversity, the aloha spirit, the temperament, accepting everybody — everything you learned growing up in Hawai'i when he was a kid, when I was a kid," she said.

Because the ball occurs two days before the inauguration, Island entertainers and hula dancers will probably have to be selected from Hawai'i people who have already made plans to be in Washington ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration, said one of the ball's organizers, Michael Siegel. He's also trying to attract some of Obama's Punahou School classmates who will be in town.

"It's difficult to bring a large group of people from Hawai'i who aren't here or don't already have accommodations," he said.

He hopes to have a Web site about the ball up by the middle of next week. People interested in tickets can e-mail alohainauguralball@gmail.com.

Attire for the Hawai'i Inaugural Ball is black tie or "native dress." And while the Aloha Inaugural Ball will be black-tie optional, Siegel plans to wear one of his aloha shirts and invited anyone else to dress in nice aloha attire.

"Hawaiian shirts will be quite welcomed," he said. "That's what I'm wearing. Maybe I'll wear it under a tuxedo jacket."