Inauguration ceremony for Maui County Council scheduled to go virtual

Judge Hamman will officiate the Jan. 2 swearing-in event

The Maui County Council will hold a virtual inauguration ceremony Jan. 2, Chairwoman Alice Lee announced Wednesday.

The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. via the BlueJeans online platform to comply with social distancing guidelines and allow equal access to the live event for Maui County residents, Lee said.

Judge Kirstin Hamman will officiate the swearing-in ceremony for the members of the 2021-23 council:

≤ Gabe Johnson, Lanai residency seat.

≤ Tasha Kama, Kahului. ≤ Kelly Takaya King, South Maui.

≤ Alice Lee, Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu.

≤ Michael Molina, MakawaoHaiku-Paia.

≤ Tamara Paltin, West Maui. ≤ Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Molokai. ≤ Shane Sinenci, East Maui. ≤ Yuki Lei Sugimura, Upcountry.

Kumu Kapono‘ai Molitau will open the ceremony with an oli and pule, Lee said. Retired Battalion Chief Louis Romero and firefighters Ikaika Blackburn and Jerry “Pito” Javier will lead out the national anthem and “Hawai‘i Pono‘i.” Kathy Collins will be master of ceremonies.

Following the inauguration, the council will hold its organizational meeting at 2 p.m. to elect officers, establish standing committees, adopt rules and appoint staff. Mayor Michael Victorino will preside over the meeting until the council selects its chairperson for the new term.

The public can view the inauguration and organizational meeting on Akaku channel 53, mauicounty.us/agendas and facebook.com/mauicounty council.

For more information, visit mauicounty.us/inauguration2021.