WASHINGTON — Last night's Pearl Presidential Inaugural Gala was meant to embrace all Pacific Islanders, but ended up being a night for Hawai'i — from the booming, group "A-loooooooo-ha!" that opened the evening to closing comments of Barack Obama's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng.

There were speeches by Hawai'i's senior senator, Daniel Inouye, and retired Army Gen. Eric Shinseki of Kaua'i, who has been tapped to head the Department of Veterans Affairs under Hawai'i-born Obama.

Although the evening was black tie or "native attire," and most opted for tuxedos or Western-style ball gowns, Ian Dapiaoen, 31, from Seattle, wore a traditional Philippine barong, which he purchased online at www.barongsrus.com.

"It was good to see other people wearing barongs here, too," he said. "It shows that there is this traditional wear that we have (to) represent our country and our heritage."

That left plenty of room for the Pearl Inaugural Gala to take its place with tonight's Hawai'i-Illinois "Home States Ball" and the Hawaii State Society's ball in giving this week's inaugural balls a decidedly Hawai'i feel.

"I was happy to see that when some of the speakers came up ... they said, 'Aloha,' and the crowd responded, loudly, 'Aloha,' " said Bob King, one of the co-owners of Pacific Biodiesel on Maui. "They got it."

He and his wife, Kelly King, waited more than an hour to get into the congressional offices of Hawai'i's delegation and receive their inauguration tickets for today's swearing-in ceremony.

Their journey to the Pearl ball was much shorter — they had booked a room in the same hotel.

Kelly King donned a big smile and a long, pale blue dress at the gala.

Before taking the elevator from her hotel room to the ballroom downstairs, she removed the "Obama Ohana" button she had worn to Capitol Hill earlier that day.

"I would be wearing it if it didn't clash with my outfit," she said.

"I actually had two people offer me fur coats for this event from Maui and I said no, we're going to be attending the (Environmental and Clean Energy Inaugural Ball) on the night of inauguration and I don't think we're going to be wearing fur coats to that."

Mahina Paishon-Duarte and Nalani Dahl, both 32, were happy just to be out of the cold and standing in the warm ballroom of the Washington, D.C., Mandarin Hotel last night.

The ball "is another way to meet people in the Pacific Islands and in the Asian realm," said Dahl, who is from Lahaina.

But the lack of Asian or Pacific Island attire didn't bother Paishon-Duarte.

"It's a big celebration," said Paishon-Duarte, who is from Nu'uanu. "You know, this is a historical moment, as everyone is saying, and we're just ecstatic to be a part of this momentous occasion."

The Pearl Inaugural Gala gave plenty of opportunity to embrace Obama, who will be sworn in as America's 44th president today.

"From what I've witnessed in this city and the people around me in these last few days," Soetoro-Ng told the crowd, "we're only going to see higher levels of participation, better communication, greater collaboration, and I think we're going to do remarkable things."