It’s official. Members of the Maui County Council for the 2015-2017 term today received their election certificates and took the oath of office at the council’s inauguration ceremony.
The Council Chamber had a standing-room-only crowd. Attendees included state House Speaker Joseph Souki, state Rep. Angus McKelvey, state Sens. Gil Keith-Agaran, Kalani English and Roz Baker, Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa and the event’s keynote speaker, Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi.
In his address, Kenoi said politics is all about shaka, smile and aloha.
“The job is easy,” said Kenoi said with a chuckle. “It’s aloha (to) everybody, every day, all the time. It means kindness, respect, compassion.
“If we say what we mean, we mean what we say. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we agree to disagree, but no need be disagreeable.”
Kenoi received a standing ovation for his inspirational speech, reminding everyone that we all live on the same island community and that we all need to work together.
Carmen Hulu Lindsey and Napua Greig provided musical entertainment, while former state Rep. Anthony Takitani served as master of ceremony. Judge Richard Bissen administered the oath, and Maui County firefighters formally presented flags and led the singing of the national anthem.
The council’s organizational meeting – the first business meeting of the term – starts at 2 p.m.
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