In his latest e-newsletter, Ed Case shares his impressions of President Barack Obama’s inauguration last week in Washington, D.C.:

“Audrey and I were truly blessed to witness history up close and personal as we joined fellow former Members of Congress and others Tuesday at the west front of our Capitol for the inauguration of President Obama and Vice President Biden.

“The day was biting cold D.C. January and the Capitol rose above us, white against a blue sky. Five huge American flags, bearing 13 to 50 stars, backdropped the inaugural stage and embraced the history embodied in the moment. We looked back down the Mall where we were joined by almost 2 million of our fellow citizens.

Ed Case

“Cheers of “O-Ba-Ma” and “Yes-We-Can” erupted at the Washington Monument and swept like giant waves toward and over us to crash and echo on the Capitol. The Lincoln Memorial was dim in the distance but the spirits of our 16th President and Martin Luther King were all around us. When our new president concluded his oath, we and everyone around us were overcome with emotion.

In my seven years now in Washington, I’ve never lived a week like this. We began Sunday at joyous receptions for the Punahou ohana and the Democratic Party of Hawaii. I’m happy for Punahou, for it’s inescapable that the unique background and qualities that brought Barack Obama to the Presidency were forged in part in that community.

“And I’m happy for my party, which engaged tens of thousands of previously disengaged Hawaii citizens in the most purely grassroots movement since the election of Gov. John Burns. Monday, we tuxed- and gowned-it at the Pearl Presidential Inaugural Gala, a celebration of our national Asian American and Pacific Islander communities which included Hawaii natives Eric Shinseki and Antonio Taguba and drove home the long-overdue political ascendancy of so many ethnic minorities across our country.

“We started Inauguration Night at the Obama Home States Ball with friends and colleagues from Hawaii and Illinois. President Obama welcomed us all with “Aloha!”, and he and our First Lady danced like high school sweethearts on prom night. We capped an incredible day pure Hawaiian style at the Hawaii State Society Inaugural Ball with music, laughter and celebration among fellow Hawaiians near and far.

“Throughout the week we had so many other special moments with former colleagues, staff and friends in D.C. (not to mention the hundreds of friends from home who made the journey with us), as well as quiet moments of personal reflection and reacquaintance with a city that’s been such a part of my life. But running throughout it all were these themes: fierce pride in my Hawaii; unconditional recommitment to my country; and deep hope and confidence in our future together.

“Of course, we all know that the celebration is over and the hard part has begun. And we also know that what needs to change in Washington and our country and world did not change simply on completion of one man’s oath.

“But the essential lesson of this election is that change is not up to someone else, but each and every one of us, in the actions we take every day. As President Obama said in his inaugural speech: ‘Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.’ I truly look forward to sharing that work with you.”

— Find out more:
Ed Case: www.edcase.com

MEDIA RELEASE

Although Ka‘u is a long way from Washington, D.C., it is well represented in festivities celebrating the historic inauguration of the 44th President of the United States.

Ka‘u coffee farmers have hand-picked and prepared a commemorative roast of their award-winning coffee for the Hawaii for Obama Inaugural Gala, to be held Sunday, Jan. 18 at The Hay-Adams, the historic hotel where Barack Obama and his family have been staying leading up to their move into The White House.

Leo Norberte, president of the Ka‘u Coffee Farmers Cooperative, said the farmers are happy to present the coffee as a thank you to the honorary chairs of the ball. The chairs include Hawaii Sen. Daniel K. Inouye and Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, as well as Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Rep. Mazie K. Hirono, whose funding in education and infrastructure has helped the Ka‘u Coffee farmers in their transition from displaced sugar workers to independent coffee farmers.

Most of the farmers lost their jobs when the sugar industry shut down in 1996 and have been working to create sustainable, independent farms. They have learned to cultivate coffee in the rich volcanic soils of their small family farms located on former sugar lands.

They hand-pick, process in small batches and sun-dry the coffee on the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano in the southernmost district of the United States. The Ka‘u coffee growing region is located near the villages of Pahala and Naalehu and is surrounded by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Ka‘u’s legendary pristine coastline.

Hawaii is the only state that produces coffee, and “our Ka‘u is a truly American fine coffee that measures up to the best in the world,” Norberte said.

The Ka‘u coffee destined to serve the 200 attendees at the inaugural gala is being air-shipped to Washington, D.C. courtesy of Eric Tanouye of Greenpoint Nurseries of Hilo, who is providing tropical flowers.

The gift of the Ka‘u coffee is supported by the Ka‘u Coffee Farmers Cooperative, Ka‘u Coffee Festival Committee, Ka‘u Farm & Ranch Co., LLC, Ka‘u Farm Bureau, Pahala Plantation Cottages and the Edmund C. Olson Trust II. See more on Ka‘u Coffee and the upcoming Ka‘u Coffee Festival at www.kaucoffeefestival.com.

Contact Michelle Galimba at 808-430-4927.

Photos by Baron Sekiya / Hawaii247.org

Councilman J. Yoshimoto, Mayor Billy Kenoi, Councilman Guy Enriques, Councilwoman Brenda Ford during inauguration ceremonies.

Billy Kenoi, center, recites the oath of office from Judge Ronald Ibarra, left, as Council Chair J. Yoshimoto watches during inaugural ceremonies at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

A member of the audience gets a snapshot of the Hawaii County Council taking the oath of office during inaugural ceremonies in Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Lunch provided after inaugural ceremonies.

more photos to come

Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.org Contributing Editor

HILO — Mayor Billy Kenoi used his inaugural speech to promise a hiring freeze for county government, an efficient and reliable bus transit system and a new system to track requests and applications.

A crowd of hundreds gathered Monday in Afook-Chinen Civic Stadium to watch as Kenoi, the nine-member county council and prosecuting attorney were sworn in.

Kenoi’s speech included many of the topics that were hot button issues for previous administrations and the nearly year-long mayoral campaign.

Kenoi said he wants to connect all the communities across the island with their county government and keep the lines of communication open.

“It’s not a time for finger-pointing, it’s a time for leadership,” Kenoi said. “I don’t intend to govern from one office in Hilo.”

Kenoi noted the county is headed for a time of increasing unemployment, slow job growth, declining revenues and likely a slow recovery from the economic slump.

He said he will work with state legislators to maximize the positive impact of available resources.

Near the top of his speech, Kenoi mentioned a hiring freeze for county government as a fiscally responsible move.

As he had repeatedly stressed during the campaign, the island would greatly benefit from a safe, efficient and reliable bus transit system. He did not mention how he intends to pay for it during his speech.

Kenoi also called for a tracking system for county applications and requests. Another of his campaign bullet points, such a system would allow applicants to monitor where their paperwork is, whose desk it is on and when a decision should be made.

Such a system would speed up permit applications and make departments and workers more accountable, Kenoi said.

Although there may be less money, Kenoi said some issues cannot be pushed aside, including finding a solution to the island’s rapidly piling up solid waste problem and straightening out infrastructure.

The new mayor, an attorney and former executive assistant in Mayor Harry Kim’s adminstration, thanked his family and supporters, and recognized the responsibility Big Island voters gave him last month.

“I will be here every single day to honor that faith and honor that trust,” he said.

Kenoi will serve for four years. The Big Island mayor’s office is non-partisan.

Mayor Harry Kim, who was not in attendance, has said he plans to retire. Kim has suffered at least two heart attacks in recent years.

In addition to his eight years as mayor, Kim served the Big Island as its Civil Defense Administration chief for more than two decades, and also as a teacher and youth coach. His students included Billy Kenoi, the man who succeeds him in the county’s top spot.

J. Yoshimoto, of Hilo, took over as council chairman, echoing Kenoi’s economic restraint and called for government efficiency.

“We need to find ways to do more with less,” he said, adding he intends to return to the general fund some funding that already has been allotted to the council.

Also returning to the council are: Donald Ikeda of Hilo, Dominic Yagong of Hamakua, Pete Hoffmann of Kohala, Brenda Ford of Kona and Emily Naeole of Ka’u.

New to the council this term are: Dennis Onishi of Hilo, Guy Enriques of Ka’u and Kelly Greenwell of Kona.

Jay Kimura continues as the county prosecutor.

MEDIA RELEASE

The inauguration for the newly elected mayor, council members, and prosecuting attorney is slated for noon, Monday, Dec. 1 at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo. The public is invited to attend. 

The program will begin with a prelude of familiar selections chose by bandmaster Paul Arceo and the Hawaii County Band. The procession will be accompanied by the Hawaii County Band.  

The Administration of Oath will be administered by the Third Circuit Court Judge Ronald Ibarra. J.E. Orozco, morning air personality/marketing consultant with KBIG Radio will act as master of ceremonies. 

Addresses will be given by the Honorable Mayor Billy Kenoi, Honorable J Yoshimoto, Chairman of the Hawaii County Council, and prosecuting attorney Jay Kimura. 

The Kamehameha Schools Alumni Chorus, Mamalahoe Chapter will perform musical rendering.  The national and state anthems will be performed by Pam Ahuna accompanied by the Hawaii County Band.  Invocation by Minister Earl Ikeda, Puna Hongwanji Mission and the benediction by Kahu Daniel K. Akaka. 

Refreshments will be served. 

Taking office are:

Mayor: Billy Kenoi

Council District 1: Dominic Yagong, Hamakua

Council District 2: Donald Ikeda, Hilo

Council District 3: J Yoshimoto, Hilo, Chairman

Council District 4: Dennis Onishi, Hilo

Council District 5: Emily Naeole, Puna

Council District 6: Guy Enriques, Ka’u

Council District 7: Brenda Ford, South Kona

Council District 8: Kelly Greenwell, North Kona

Council District 9: Pete Hoffmann, Kohala, Vice Chairman

Prosecuting Attorney: Jay Kimura

— Find out more:

Hawaii County: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/contents.htm