Hawaii County will swear in its new Mayor, Mitch Roth; its new County Prosecutor, Kelden Waltjen; and all 9 County Council members on Monday, Dec. 7, at noon.  The ceremony will be virtual, with some of the participants at the Council Chambers in Kona–including Mayor-elect Roth, and some at the Hilo Council Chambers.  Former Mayor Billy Kenoi will be the keynote speaker.    Roth said no guests are allowed, not even family members, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to keep everybody spaced apart from each other.

The Master of Ceremonies will be DC, Darrin Carlson, of New West Broadcasting.

It’s a tradition in the County for the inauguration to be a festive event, with much lei-giving.  In a discussion several days before the inauguration, Mayor elect Roth asked that people who might otherwise give him (or maybe others) lei for this important occasion consider instead making a donation to one of the many nonprofit organizations on the island that are truly helping those who need help during this time of COVID-19.  One that is, is the Hawaii Island Food Basket, which is distributing food around the island each month.  Hawaii Island Food Basket (the island’s only food bank)  has a web site where you may learn how/where to donate money:  hawaiifoodbasket.org

The public may watch the inauguration Monday at noon on NaLeo Channel 55, online at naleo.tv, or online at hawaiicounty.gov/inauguration 2020

The short audio clip below is Mayor-elect Roth’s take on the situation: