County Council inauguration to be held virtually
Due to COVID-19, no ceremonies to be held in person at Council Chamber
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The Maui News
Kihei Charter School alumna Sophia Davis will deliver the keynote address at the Maui County Council inauguration at 10 a.m. Saturday via video conference, said Chairwoman Alice L. Lee.
Davis is studying biomedical engineering at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. A 2018 high school graduate, Davis previously worked at Maui Innovation Group, where she helped build ventilators for Maui Memorial Medical Center.
"What Sophia has accomplished in her young life is impressive, as are the vision and promise for the future that her role in this year's inauguration represents," Lee said.
For the first time, the entire council proceeding will take place remotely and there will be no inauguration activities in the Council Chamber or at the Kalana O Maui Building, Lee said.
The public can watch the inauguration live on Akaku Channel 53, at MauiCounty.us/agendas or on the Maui County Council's Facebook page.
Kumu Kapono'ai Molitau will open the ceremony with an oli and pule, Kathy Collins will be the mistress of ceremony, and retired Battalion Chief Louis Romero, along with firefighters Ikaika Blackburn and Jerry "Pito" Javier, will lead the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner and Hawaii Pono'i.
Judge Kirstin M. Hamman will officiate the swearing-in ceremony for the members for the 2021-2023 council. They are with their residency seats:
• Gabe Johnson (Lanai)
• Tasha Kama (Kahului)
• Kelly Takaya King (South Maui)
• Alice L. Lee (Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu)
• Michael J. Molina (Makawao-Haiku-Paia)
• Tamara Paltin (West Maui)
• Keani N. W. Rawlins-Fernandez (Molokai)
• Shane M. Sinenci (East Maui)
• Yuki Lei K. Sugimura (Upcountry)
At 2 p.m., the council will hold its organizational meeting to elect officers, establish standing committees, adopt rules and appoint staff. Mayor Michael P. Victorino will preside until the council selects its chair for the new term.
For more information on the inauguration, see MauiCounty.us.