Posted on: Friday, December 27, 2002
City Council inauguration ceremonies set
• Convictions may taint City Council's legacy
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Six new members of the Honolulu City Council and three incumbents will be sworn in at noon Thursday in the Council Chambers of Honolulu Hale.
Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon will swear in Mike Gabbard (Wai'anae, 'Ewa), Donovan Dela Cruz (Wahiawa, North Shore, 'Ahuimanu), Barbara Marshall (Kane'ohe, Kailua, Waimanalo), Charles Djou (Waikiki, Kaimuki, Hawai'i Kai), Ann Kobayashi (Makiki, Manoa, Kapahulu, Palolo), Rod Tam (Kalihi Valley, Nu'uanu, Kaka'ako), Romy Cachola (Aliamanu, Airport, Kalihi), Gary Okino (Pearl City, Waipi'o, Shafter) and Nestor Garcia (Waipahu, Mililani, Makakilo).
To create staggered terms, during the past election, council members were elected to either two- or four-year terms, depending on whether their district number was odd or even. Gabbard, Marshall, Kobayashi, Cachola and Garcia, representing odd-numbered districts, will serve two-year terms. Dela Cruz, Djou, Tam and Okino will serve four-year terms.
After being sworn in, the council members will conduct a business meeting to adopt several resolutions pertaining to council officers and rules. In November, Okino announced he would be chairman of the 2003 Council, with fellow incumbents Kobayashi and Cachola as vice chairwoman and floor leader, respectively.
At 12:30 p.m., the council members will move to the Blaisdell Center Concert Hall for an inauguration ceremony, which will include a chant by Kamaki Kanahele and Kauila Clark and performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band Glee Club, Dita Holifield and Palani Vaughan. Honolulu police officer Michael Kahikina and firefighter George Kalei Davis will also be featured. A reception will follow. Both ceremonies are open to the public.
