StarBulletin.com

Leaders' new terms begin amid party and concert


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POSTED: Thursday, January 01, 2009

Mayor Mufi Hannemann and the Honolulu City Council will be sworn into office tomorrow in separate ceremonies.

Hannemann will take his oath of office for his second term as mayor at 10 a.m. at Kapolei Hale in a private ceremony for his family and Cabinet members.

Hannemann is expected to attend the inauguration for the City Council at noon in the City Council chambers. The only change in the nine-member Council is the introduction of a familiar face, former City Councilman Duke Bainum, who places Ann Kobayashi to represent Manoa to Moiliili.

The formal program for Hannemann's inauguration will begin at 5 p.m. with a concert at the Hawaii Theatre. The schedule includes performances by Danny Kaleikini, the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus and Cecilio and Kapono.

“;We're cognizant of the state of our economy and sensitive to the concerns of our people, and that's why we decided to forgo the traditional inaugural gala in favor of a more modest affair that celebrates the good things about life in the islands,”; Hannemann said in a statement.

The inauguration will end with the monthly First Friday block party in Chinatown at 7 p.m., which will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the election of Mayor Joseph Fern, Honolulu's first.