text: A hue of blue inspired by the waters of Hawaii is a prominent feature of the Obama state china service being unveiled by the White House. President Barack Obama is a Hawaii native who returns every Christmas for vacation. Michelle Obama's office says the first lady chose what's being called 'Kailua Blue' to distinguish her family's china from the red, green, blue and yellow used on more recent state services. Scroll down for video . Went bright: Michelle Obama chose a bold, watery blue hue to accent the Obama White House's official china . Pickard, America's oldest fine china company, has been in business since 1893. In that time, their high end offerings have won them an extremely discerning clientele, including: . Air Force One . Camp David . Gracie Mansion . King of Saudia Arabia . South Carolina Governor's Mansion . United Nations . United States Air Force . United States Department of State . Source . 'It's a modern and fresh color not previously seen on state chinas, but Mrs. Obama's main goal was to create a modern service that is completely compatible and interchangeable and usable with all the historic china services,' White House Curator William Allman said during a preview of Tuesday's state dinner. A fluted band of Kailua Blue, framed by a textured gold rim and a simple gold inner line, appears on all pieces of the service, except the dinner and serving plates. The solid white dinner plates are edged in gold; the service plates have a wide gold rim and the presidential coat of arms at the center. The china, which has settings for 320 people, cost approximately $367,000. It was paid for from a private fund that is administered by the White House Historical Association and used to acquire fine and decorative arts for the presidential mansion. The state china service then-first lady Laura Bush unveiled in January 2009 cost $493,000. It was being unveiled Monday during a preview for Tuesday's state dinner for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 'If you've seen our state dinners, we really do a lot of mixing and matching — sometimes because we really do not have enough, sometimes because we're trying to create a new modern, different, edgy kind of look,' Mrs. Obama told Architectural Digest last week when she previewed the Obama state china for interior design journalists and bloggers. 'This Kailua Blue is one of those colors that will complement some of the other pieces already in the collection in a way that's elegant, and I think it will be timeless.' 'Kailua Blue': Michelle Obama's office says the first lady chose what's being called 'Kailua Blue' to distinguish her family's china from the red, green, blue and yellow used on more recent state services . Gold: A fluted band of Kailua Blue, framed by a textured gold rim and a simple gold inner line, appears on all pieces of the service, except the dinner and serving plates. The solid white dinner plates are edged in gold; the service plates have a wide gold rim and the presidential coat of arms at the center . Long process: Three years ago, in the spring of 2012, Pickard China, of Antioch, Illinois, was brought in to consult on the project. The company has made dinnerware for use at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland and aboard Air Force One . The Obama state china service was paid for with money from a private fund that is used to buy fine and decorative arts for the White House and is administered by the White House Historical Association. The cost was not disclosed. There is no requirement for presidents to have a state china service and some, including Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush, had none. Planning began in the fall of 2011 when Mrs. Obama and family friend and designer Michael Smith began gathering feedback from members of the White House residence staff. Three years ago, in the spring of 2012, Pickard China, of Antioch, Illinois, was brought in to consult on the project. The company has made dinnerware for use at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland and aboard Air Force One. Mrs. Obama wanted the state china service to have modern elements but also be practical, said the White House, which was unveiling it earlier than recent administrations. Each setting includes a first for presidential tableware — an individual tureen that can be used for soup, dessert or 'any other dish that the chefs get creative and decide they would like to serve with a little panache in an individual serving size,' Allman said. Then-first ladies Laura Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton were not around to use the state china services they introduced just weeks before their husbands left office. Obama has approximately 20 months left in his term, which ends on Jan. 20, 2017. Early debut: Mrs. Obama wanted the state china service to have modern elements but also be practical, said the White House, which was unveiling it earlier than recent administrations .
target: Michelle Obama's office says she chose the bold hue to distinguish her family's china from the red, green, blue and yellow used on more recently .
  The Obama state china service consists of 11-piece place settings for 320 people and the blue appears on all pieces but the dinner plate .
  Pickard China, of Antioch, Illinois, was brought in to consult on the project three years ago and it's just now come to fruition .
  The china as paid for from a private fund that is administered by the White House Historical Association .