The Jan. 20 Aloha Inaugural Ball at The Royal Hawaiian hotel represents the first presidential ball in Hawai'i and the first time that three former first ladies of Hawai'i are coming together to organize such an event.

"The fact that our president-elect was from Hawai'i makes it very special and extraordinary," said former first lady Vicky Cayetano, who is chairing the Aloha Inaugural Ball.

Hawai'i's three former Democratic governors — Ben Cayetano, John Waihee and George Ariyoshi — are serving as the ball's honorary chairs. But the event will be strictly nonpartisan, Vicky Cayetano said.

"There's not going to be any political speeches," she said. "We're there to celebrate the inauguration of President Obama."

The organizers were finalizing details yesterday and plan a press conference this afternoon to release more details.

But until the night of the ball, the biggest question remains how Hawai'i people will interpret the dress code of "elegant aloha."

Vicky Cayetano expects attendees to tap into their cultural roots and come up attire that reflects their various ethnic backgrounds.

"That's what makes Hawai'i so unique and so special," she said.

She plans on wearing a mu'umu'u designed by Puamana Crabbe that Cayetano hopes will reflect a more modern style.

"I wanted to represent our president and this new era," she said. Her husband, the former governor, most likely will wear a modern black jacket over a white shirt.

Television producer and host Emme Tomimbang, who is helping to coordinate the program, said, "It's an inaugural ball so everyone's trying to dress to the nines. But they don't know what that means. Part of the fun is seeing everyone's own definition of island elegance. This is not going to be in D.C. with 43 degrees. You're not going to need a fur coat."

With people asking what kind of dress is appropriate, Tomimbang said there are only a few rules: "No shorts, even with sequins," she said. "And we would prefer shoes for safety, no slippers."

Also yesterday, the Hawai'i chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, announced its own inauguration night party for Jan. 20.

"It's not a ball," said Alphonso Braggs, the group's president. "It's a party."

Organizers expect 100 people to attend the event. The cost for the $35 tickets will benefit the NAACP's scholarship fund.