Harris observes last birthday as mayor

Advertiser Staff

Laughter and tears filled a City Hall conference room yesterday as Mayor Jeremy Harris celebrated his last birthday in office with about 60 top city officials and friends.

Harris, whose term ends in early January, turned 54. He was born in 1950 in Wilmington, Del., nine years after the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor left Dec. 7 forever linked with the city he would lead for a decade.

The historical irony has made it easy for city workers to remember Harris' birthday, but celebrations have traditionally been very low-key.

Yesterday's gathering was one of the last that Harris and his Cabinet will share as his term winds down and officials leave for holiday vacations and other opportunities.

The group enjoyed a buffet lunch, sang Christmas carols and shared personal stories about the Harris era.

Harris said he was very proud of his City Hall team and felt privileged to have worked with its members. He said he hoped future generations of Honolulu residents would appreciate the administration's accomplishments when looking back.

One staff member composed a humorous proclamation for the mayor, which followed the rhythm of "The Night Before Christmas" and substituted the names of top officials for those of Santa's reindeer.

"The mayor's eyes, how they twinkled," one verse read. "As he spoke they got brighter. He looked like Saint Nick, just a hundred pounds lighter."