U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie said the state and the Hawaii Tourism Authority should do something to advertise Hawaii during the inaugural week of Washington festivities.

“;The Hawaii society can't even sell any more tickets - they are sold out. There are millions of people coming to Washington, and Hawaii is doing zero,”; Abercrombie said.

Hawaii's Inaugural Ball is a sellout, according to Hawaii State Society in Washington, D.C. There are 11 state-themed balls.

Tickets are $200 for the Jan. 20 affair to be held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington.

While planning for the ball is still going on, there is criticism in Hawaii about the lack of promotion of the state during a time when Hawaii-born and educated Sen. Barack Obama is sworn in as president.

That Obama is an instantly recognizable world celebrity and is from Hawaii should be enough reason for the state and the tourism authority to promote Hawaii during the inaugural week, Abercrombie said.

“;It will be amazing, and we are missing out on it,”; he said. “;I can't comprehend it.”;

Kelvin Bloom, tourism authority chairman, said the inauguration was discussed at the board meeting last week and was referred to the marketing committee.

While he said he was “;confident”; the committee would seriously consider Hawaii promotion in Washington, Bloom said the tourism authority “;would need to have some reasonable return on our investment.”;

In Washington, Sarah Elizabeth Ulis, president of the Hawaii State Society, said they are hoping Obama will stop by the Hawaii ball.

“;We have every hope that he will come. Many Punahou graduates and his friends will be there, and I know he will have a very good time,”; she said.

So far the ball has been given support from First Hawaiian Bank, Alexander & Baldwin, Punahou School and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, according to Ulis.