Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and members of the Honolulu City Council will take their oaths of office in separate ceremonies on Thursday.
Blangiardi, who secured his second term in office with a landslide victory in the Primary Election in August, and his cabinet will take their oath in a private ceremony, 9 a.m., at Honolulu Hale. A formal program will be held at 5 p.m. at Mission Memorial Auditorium.
“As I prepare to take the oath for a second term as mayor, I am deeply honored and inspired by the trust our community has placed in me and our administration,” Blangiardi said. “Serving this city has been the challenge, responsibility and privilege of a lifetime, and we are committed to building on the progress we have made together. In this new term, we will double down on efforts to improve quality of life, create more opportunities for all, and ensure Oahu’s brighter, more resilient future. I feel our journey is just beginning, and I am excited to work for our city and our great team of dedicated, hardworking public servants to achieve our shared vision.”
The inaugural program will feature an opening oli and mele by Halau Hiiakainamakalehua, a traditional Hawaiian blessing by Kahu Kordell Kekoa, musical performances by Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Henry Kapono and the Royal Hawaiian Band Glee Club, a keynote address by Hokulea master navigator Nainoa Thompson, and an inaugural address by the mayor.
The ceremony will be broadcast live on Olelo55 and streamed live on Blangiardi’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Also on Thursday, Honolulu City Council will swear in one newly elected Council member and four returning members at its first meeting of the New Year at noon at Honolulu Hale.
Former state Rep. Scott Nishimoto is replacing retiring councilmember Calvin Say. He’ll join returning members Andria Tupola, Esther Kiaaina, Radiant Cordero and Augie Tulba in taking the oath of office. All five will be sworn in by Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald.
Council chair Tommy Waters will lead the inauguration and preside over the meeting.
Waters and councilmembers Matt Weyer, Tyler Dos Santos-Tam and Val Okimoto are continuing their terms.
The ceremony will include an oli and message of aloha by Pua Alii Ilima Kumu Hula, PAI Foundation founder and Hawaiian cultural practitioner Vicky Holt Takamine and traditional Hawaiian music by the Royal Hawaiian Band.
Seating within the chamber is primarily reserved for the council’s invited guests. Should any seats remain, seating for the public will begin at around 11:50 a.m.
“Over the past two years, the Honolulu City Council, in close partnership with the City administration, has made significant and meaningful progress in addressing Oahu’s housing crisis, enhancing the safety and wellbeing of our residents, and figuring out new and creative ways to ease the confounding cost-of-living increases that are increasingly burdening our local families,” Waters said. “These are perennial problems, and as we look to the future, our councilmembers are determined and excited to work with each of their respective district constituents to build on the progress we’ve made to create positive change and a better future for the entire community.”
The council will vote on proposed leadership roles at Thursday’s meeting. For the full agenda, click here.
Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.