Josh Green and Sylvia Luke take their oaths of office

Hawaii has a new governor and lieutenant governor today.

Gov. Josh Green and Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke each received standing ovations from the estimated audience of 700 after taking their oaths of office.

A few hundred people attended this morning’s pre-inauguration festivities. The stage-side floor of the Blaisdell Arena featured state legislators from both parties and several former county and state officials.

Others included Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and newly elected U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, who will represent rural Oahu and the neighbor islands when she takes office in January.

Green becomes Hawaii’s ninth governor since statehood in 1959. Today’s procession included his five predecessors: former Govs. George Ariyoshi, John Waihee, Neil Abercrombie, Linda Lingle and David Ige, who wrapped up two terms and eight years in office today.

Green and first lady Jaime Green, were joined by their children, Maia, and son, Sam. There was a sweet moment when the children led the audience by citing the Pledge of Allegiance.

Luke took her oath of office with her hand on a Bible given by her mother, Yunja Moon. It is inscribed, “To my loving daughter Eun Jung. I love you Lord, You are my strength. Psalm 18:1.” Her mother flew in from Georgia.

The public ceremony began at 11 a.m. and the swearing-in ceremony was scheduled at noon. The inauguration ran ahead of schedule so the Royal Hawaiian Band played extra numbers because the state Constitution requires the governor to be sworn in at noon.

As the band played on at one point singer Kala‘i Stern quipped, “This extended concert by the Royal Hawaiian Band has been brought to you by the clock.”

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