WASHINGTON » The rooftop terrace at the Hay-Adams Hotel shook with the sounds of aloha last night as Hawaii made its presence known on the inaugural scene in the nation's capital.

Three of the state's four mayors joined Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning Hawaii musician John Cruz to serenade a crowd of about 200—mostly from Hawaii—who gathered at the historic hotel to toast President-elect Barack Obama.

The Hawaii for Obama Inaugural Gala was the crowning event for the local grass-roots movement that started in the winter of 2006—as local Democrats urged the Hawaii-born junior senator from Illinois to make a run at the White House.

“;The excitement that people have, I think, knowing that we're going to have a new president, a new hope for the future—it's just been a really amazing time,”; said Andy Winer, who served as coordinator of Obama's campaign in Hawaii.

A few miles away, hula dancers and Hawaii musicians also danced the night away at the first Aloha Inaugural Ball.

Chants of “;Yes, we did”; could be heard in the halls of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel as partygoers enjoyed a unique ball that fused the Hawaiian music of Brother Ah and kumu hula Manu Ikaika with the funk sound of Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer George Clinton.

Janet Cuffe of Suitland, Md., said she attended the event because she wanted to get a glimpse of Obama's upbringing in Hawaii.

“;I wanted to experience what Obama experienced in Hawaii because he was reared there,”; said Cuffe. “;Being here gives me a sense of where Obama grew up.”;

An estimated 500 people attended the Aloha Inaugural Ball, where they enjoyed performances by Halau Hoomau i ka Wai Ola o Hawaii and Halau o Aulani.

“;This is beautiful,”; said Cuffe as she watched hula dancers perform graceful moves in their bright-orange attire. She sampled all the local-style food last night, which included macaroni salad, roasted suckling pig and shoyu chicken. Andree-Nicola McLaughlin of New York, who regularly travels to Hawaii, described the event as magnificent with its array of food, music and diverse mix of attendees. The event itself reflected the state's society and Obama's aloha spirit to bring people together.

“;That impresses me,”; said McLaughlin. The Aloha Inaugural Ball was organized by Gloria Borland, an independent filmmaker who has made a documentary about Obama's childhood in Hawaii.

Both events were among the dozens of inaugural parties celebrating Obama. Hawaii residents have traveled in droves to Washington, braving subzero temperatures, to take part in the festivities.

From atop the Hay Adams, Kuliouou resident Jeannette Hereniko gazed at the famed residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. a few blocks away and recalled a time when she met the future president at the wedding of his half sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and her husband,Konrad Ng.

At the time, he was a newly elected senator and had yet to make his head-turning speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

“;He gave Maya away and when he spoke I cried,”; Hereniko said. “;After that, I e-mailed my friends Konrad and Maya and said, 'You're in for a whole different ride, because this man has got it.'”;

The Hawaii for Obama gala was intended as a way to thank Hawaii campaign volunteers who were shut out of getting tickets to tomorrow's Hawaii State Society Ball. The state society ball was the first inauguration week event to sell out.

Hawaii's county mayors attended the event, along with U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and U.S. Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono. U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye was unable to attend.

Celebrity guests included actress Kelly Hu and television journalist Lisa Ling.

State Sen. Gary Hooser, who was in town only for the weekend before heading back to Hawaii for tomorrow's opening of the state Legislature, summed up the mood of most partygoers.

“;It's a good time to be an American with Barack Obama being elected,”; he said, “;and it's good to be from Hawaii.”;