WASHINGTON — The Hawai'i State Society's first presidential inaugural ball was not among the 10 "official" balls that the Presidential Inaugural Committee is hosting on the evening of Jan. 20.

The official balls are those that are guaranteed an appearance by President-elect Barack Obama, Vice President-elect Joe Biden and their wives.

But that doesn't mean the Obamas won't stop by, said Sarah Ulis, president of the society.

Ulis said the society received a letter from the Presidential Inaugural Committee saying that the group's ball at the Mandarin Oriental hotel was not being sanctioned as an official event.

"They didn't say anything about a visit," Ulis said. "We're still hopeful that he will come and surprise us."

Six of the official balls will be held at the Washington Convention Center. The others will be at National Building Museum, Union Station, the Washington Hilton and the D.C. Armory, according to a Washington Post report.

The society is counting on some heavyweights to help sway Obama to stop by their soiree, however.

Ulis said Obama's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, an honorary co-chair for the inauguration, will be attending the state's gala, which is expected to attract 1,000 guests, including a number of Obama's Punahou School classmates.

"We have a special chant, called an oli, for him ... written by some special people in Hawai'i," she said.

Hawai'i vocalist Raiatea Helm, who will be one of the gala's entertainers, also wrote a special song for Obama, Ulis said.

"We understand that Raiatea Helm is one of Obama's favorite artists, so we are hoping that will help get him there," she said.

On top of that, the society is giving out 1,000 fresh flower lei, flown in from Hawai'i, to the attendees with special ones for the Obamas and the Bidens, Ulis said.

As of Dec. 13, the Presidential Inaugural Committee had raised $9.7 million from 243 donors to help pay for some of the festivities. Only one Hawai'i donor was listed among the contributors: Kehaulani Lum of 'Aiea, who contributed $9,000.