New Hawaiʻi Island mayor Kimo Alameda, county council sworn in during energetic inauguration

For the first time in decades, Hawaiʻi County held the inauguration of its mayor and county council on the west side of the island, and oh what a celebration it was.

When Kimo Alameda took his oath as the new mayor, hundreds cheered and gave him a standing ovation at the Outrigger Resort’s Kaleiopapa Convention Center in Keauhou.

“Because of you today, I’m your mayor of Moku o Keawe (traditional name of the Big Island),” said Alameda, who defeated incumbent Mitch Roth in the November general election.

Alameda said he is proud the inauguration was taking place in Keauhou, which means new era, which was the message of his campaign.

Alameda intends to address the needs of the community islandwide. From fire safety in Waikōloa to getting public bathrooms at Maka‘eo at Old Kona Airport Park to street lighting in the rural communities of Nā‘ālehu and Kohala.

Alameda said his campaign was about bringing all people together from all parties.

“It’s not about the left shaka. It’s not about the right shaka. It’s about the double shaka,” Alameda proclaimed to the crowd.

The air was filled with the aroma of maile, puakenikeni and tuberose as Hawai‘i County’s newly elected leaders all were stacked neck-high with lei after being sworn into office.

They included county council members Michelle Galimba, James Hustace, Holeka Inaba, Jenn Kagiwada, Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder, Ashley Kierkiewicz, Heather Kimball, Dennis “Fresh” Onishi and Rebecca Villegas. Prosecuting attorney Kelden Waltjen, who won reelection, also was sworn in.

The event was steeped in Hawaiian culture from prayer to song to hula.

Alameda, Waltjen and Inaba, the new council chair who represents North Kona, are all part Hawaiian and born and raised on Hawai‘i Island.

Inaba thanked everyone for trusting the new leadership. He said this era with Alameda at the helm is filled with opportunity and promise.

“Just as the sun rises each and every day, our work as leaders must be steadfast, resilient and done with humility,” he said. “As we lead with aloha, we will cast away the shadows of inequity and forge a path that brings a brighter and stronger future for Hawai‘i Island.”

The council saw a shakeup during the General Election in November when Hustace defeated incumbent Cindy Evans by almost 1,000 votes in the race to represent North and South Kohala in District 9.

Hustace said he was humbled and overwhelmed by the throngs of people who came out to support the county leadership.

“I’m just trying to take it all in,” he said between acknowledging and receiving lei after lei from friends and community members.

Hustace has been involved with community service in the Kohala community for years. Outside of his work as a substitute teacher and art appraiser with his father’s business, he has led volunteer efforts throughout the community, including restoring Ke Ala Kahawai O Waimea, also known as the Waimea Stream Trail.

His first order of business will be to establish his office staff. Hustace plans to find funding for infrastructure projects in his district, including cesspool conversion for residents, emergency road access in Waikōloa and addressing the reef.

Onishi, a former county council member who served from 2008-16, won the District 3 seat, representing portions of South Hilo and Kea‘au, after garnering 51% of the vote in the primary. He will take over for Sue Lee Loy of Hilo, who was term-limited after serving eight consecutive years, and serve as vice chairman of the council.

Onishi is looking forward to fixing the problems he sees in his district with Alameda, starting with upgrading the gym in Keaukaha, doing more water testing of Puhi Bay and upgrading the wastewater system.

State dignitaries also were in the audience, including Gov. Josh Green and Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke.

Tim Richards, a Hawai‘i Island senator and former county council member for the Kohala community, said Monday’s inauguration felt intimate and noted optimism in the air for the next four years. He is looking forward to working with the council at the state level on priorities that include land and water access, as well as agriculture commodities.

Jo Ann Iwane, of Kealakekua, was at the inauguration today supporting Merrick Nishimoto, who was chosen by Alameda to be the assistant managing director. She has known Nishimoto and his family since he was a child.

Iwane said Nishimoto accepted the job because he was able to stay on the west side to do the work. Most government leadership is based on the east side, in or near Hilo.

“He said: ‘This is my community. I know Kona.ʻ So heʻs staying over here and I love that,” Iwane said. “Iʻm excited for this new chapter.”

Alameda’s daughter, Seizen Alameda, said she and her siblings were excited for their dad: “We feel like this is such a win for our family and we couldn’t be more proud of our dad.

She added: “We know he will lead our people with integrity, pride, determination and all the things that make him a good leader because heʻs been a good leader as our dad our whole lives.”

Seizen Alameda said the family feels more united and knows that her mother Star, who passed away suddenly earlier this year, would be proud: “We canʻt wait to hold our dad accountable and remind him of the many problems we have today.”

Kelsey Walling contributed to this story.