ARLINGTON, VA. — In a town that's overflowing with black-tie balls this week, Barack Obama's classmates and extended family from Punahou School celebrated his upcoming inauguration last night with pupu and unassuming hula.

While men in tuxedos and women in evening gowns streamed into Washington's fanciest ballrooms, a few dozen alums from the Punahou Class of '79 turned out in street clothes to flip through old yearbooks and tell stories of their days as kids and how far their famous classmate has come.

A two-piece band strummed Island songs at the Yaku restaurant in the Washington suburb of Arlington, Va., and about 30 students from Obama's graduating class posed for a group photo that included a collage of pictures of them back in the day.

Worldwide attention has been focused on what many consider to be Hawai'i's most elite private school following Obama's rise on the national political stage, which was capped by his historic presidential victory in November.

But the emphasis last night was on how little Obama has changed and how proud the people of Punahou are now that he is carrying his lessons of inclusiveness onto the world stage.

"He's energizing us to be respectful of each other and be really thoughtful," said Paula Kurashige, who was the dean of the Class of '79. "I feel exhilarated, proud, honored and thankful that the people in this country elected him president."

These are heady days for Punahou and this week's celebrations have not been devoid of pomp.

Essentially the same group of alumni and faculty dressed up in fancy clothes Sunday night and celebrated in more elegant style at the opulent, Washington-area home of Steve Case, the co-founder and former chief executive officer and chairman of AOL who graduated from Punahou in 1976.

And many of the Punahou classmates who turned out for last night's reunion will attend one or two of the biggest balls of the week following Obama's swearing-in ceremony today: the Home States Ball that Obama will attend and the Hawaii State Society Ball that organizers hope will include an Obama visit.

But last night's reunion could have been thrown in any O'ahu backyard over a cooler full of Budweiser.

Beadie Dawson, an advocate for Hawaiian rights and a member of Punahou's Class of 1947, remembered her daughter, Donne, playing kickball with her classmate, Obama, at Punahou.

Donne Dawson is now the Hawai'i State Film Commissioner, and today Obama will become America's 44th president.

But last night Beadie focused on all of the good feelings that continue to surround their class and beyond.

"We have such a love for each other at Punahou," Beadie said. "It's like we're all blood relatives. And Barack reflects the Hawaiian spirit in everything he does. He's totally inclusive and nonpartisan. And that's how we are in Hawai'i. We're sharing with the whole word what we teach: bringing everyone in."

Last night's party even included two of Obama's high school rivals, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Kaua'i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.

Hannemann graduated from 'Iolani School in 1972 then coached 'Iolani's junior varsity basketball team against a Punahou junior varsity that included Obama.

Carvalho, who graduated from Kapa'a High School in 1979, played center against Obama when Obama was a forward.

"I feel like we're all coming together," Carvalho said. "That's the magic of what Obama is bringing to our country."

Hannemann even proudly wore a Punahou Class of '79 pin on his lapel that he was given last night.

"This is really odd for me to be here," Hannemann said.

But an Obama presidency will far outweigh any high school rivalries from 30 years ago, Hannemann said.

He raised his right hand and said he's anticipating the moment today when Obama swears his oath to the office of president.

"It'll be an incredible, unbelievable thing to see," Hannemann said.