Hannemann was a front-seat passenger in the Ford SUV driven by a city employee when the vehicle skidded on the rain-slick townbound ramp near Halawa, city spokesman Bill Brennan said.

The vehicle suffered minor damage but no one was injured in the 11:30 a.m. accident.

Hannemann had been in Waipahu in the morning and was on his way to participate in the Korean Festival in Kapi'olani Park when the accident occurred.

Afterward, he was driven to the event by another city staff member in another vehicle. The mayor, smiling and looking unfazed, appeared on stage at the festival shortly before 1 p.m.

"I understand it was very wet at the time and the car began hydroplaning and slipping and skidding before it hit the guard rail," Brennan said.