By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
The mood was relaxed and the setting perfect at the Inaugural Gala at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

Hawaii residents didn’t have to be in D.C. to dress up to party with Barack.

I started the evening at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, where the Democratic Party of Hawaii’s Inaugural Gala shared its big day with the grand reopening of the hotel after more than six months of renovations. The Pink Palace was dressed in its distinctive color, and the party — on the lawn and in the Monarch Room — was a great way to reintroduce the luxury property. I kept overhearing guests saying they hadn’t been there in years and suggesting booking mini vacations on the property.

Madeleine McKay, pictured with Michael Titterton, wears a bustled gown of her own design.

Makana Shook wears a fishtail holoku by Mamo Howell at the Pink Palace event.

One of the highlights was the toasts by Hawaii’s former governors, with a trio of “Banzai”s from George Ariyoshi, “Mabuhay” from Ben Cayetano, “Imua” from John Waihee, and “Cheers” from Judge Jim Burns, standing in for his late father, John A. Burns, who jokingly referred to the new administration as ushering in a new era of hope and openness, “even for the white guys.” The video of their toasts will be sent to the new president.

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Honolulu Rainbow Inaugural Ball director Marshall Tokunaga, center, at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel with HGLCF founder and president Jack Law, left, and HGLCF executive director Jeff Davis. Lucky we have a president, not a monarch, so Obama need not be threatened by Marshall’s crown.

It’s with the same spirit of hope, change and inclusiveness that members of the HGLCF held its own Honolulu Rainbow Obama Inauguration Ball at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel. There, revelers were dressed to reflect aspects of the new administration: bold, colorful, and most of all, chop suey, with a mix of suits, tuxedos, ball gowns, Hawaiian attire, lei, even a tiara or two.

Jack Law with Kawai Aipia, left, and Shade Vaughn, who posed for pictures with guests as Barack and Michelle Obama at the HGLCF event.

I’m usually off doing my own thing, so it was cool to see the rest of the press at work at the Royal Hawaiian.

Former Gov. George Ariyoshi, on the screen at the Royal Hawaiian, delivers one of three Banzai toasts.

Jean Ariyoshi was going to wear a Hanae Mori jacket, but decided to switch to a top that would match her lei.

David Graves looks dapper in an Andy Mohan suit paired with a Panama hat to the inauguration ball.

Marguerite Carroll embraces a retro glam look.

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Balloons in rainbow hues dressed the Honolulu Rainbow Obama Inauguration Ball at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel.

From left, Chase Spangler, James Blas and Shade Vaughn at the HGLCF event.

On the third-floor open-air deck at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel, Talon Garbiso, center, puppy sat Bud for “Barack,” aka Kawai Aipia. He’s with Veronica Worth, left, and Steve Barnes.

Also celebrating Obama’s inauguration were Allen Hanaike, left, and Daniel Naho’opi’i.

Brandy Perpignan wore a gown designed by her friend Raqi.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 at 6:37 pm and is filed under People, Parties. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.