Mayor Mitch Roth has repeatedly stated the goal of his administration is to help people thrive and succeed, and on Monday, less than an hour after reaffirming that pledge during his inauguration speech, he detailed several examples of emergency rules he plans to implement to help schools and businesses better cope with COVID-19 restrictions.
The gravity of the coronavirus pandemic really hit home for him when his son, who lives in California, was unable to come home for the inauguration because he tested positive for COVID-19, Roth said. He praised the state’s Safe Travels program, saying the required pre-travel test may have saved the rest of his family from contracting the virus.
“This pandemic is far from over and we have to remain vigilant,” Roth said, emphasizing social distancing, mask wearing and keeping physically healthy to help the immune system stay strong.
Roth, a two-term county prosecutor, won with 50,370 total votes to political newcomer Ikaika Marzo’s 35,887 in the Nov. 3 election.
“We’re incredibly lucky to be here on Hawaii Island. We’ve been able to maintain a low coronavirus positivity rate, and I think that’s a good thing. However, I realize and understand the struggles and sacrifices people have had to make to keep that infection rate low,” Roth said.
“On this island, small business and tourism have been the bedrock of our economy. And it pains me, it pains me to see people suffering, their livelihood suffering, as a result of the of the pandemic,” he added. “It will be a great challenge for this administration to strike the right balance between keeping our island safe and healthy while also keeping our island’s employees employed and able to put food on the table of their families.”
Roth is already working on emergency rules to address two immediate areas of concern, he said during a brief press conference after the inauguration. One would allow tents and other temporary structures to be used for longer than six months, after a charter school reported it was told to take down its tent where it was teaching students in order to keep them out in the open air. The other would loosen the rules so restaurants could put more tables outside to increase capacity.
It was an inauguration like no other, with masked elected officials split between the Kona and Hilo council chambers to take their oaths of office. Public attendance was limited, but for the first time, the event was webcast to the world, so even Roth’s California family was able to view the proceedings.
It was the first time the mayor was sworn in on the west side of the island instead of in Hilo, a symbolic gesture Roth said emphasizes his pledge to ensure the county administration serves the entire island.
The County Council also elected its first ever self-described “kanaka maoli wahine,” or Native Hawaiian female as council chair, in South Kona/Ka‘u Councilwoman Maile David. David pledged to employ native values in helping the island recover from the pandemic, as well as tackling climate change and cultural preservation as two other goals.
“I grew up during a period when learning and speaking the Hawaiian language was prohibited,” David said, describing how she asked each council member to submit a Hawaiian word that held special meaning to them.
David read each of the nine words, explaining their meaning.
“When I read these words that have very special meaning to every single person on this council, it tells me lot,” David said. “It tells me we are on the right and pono path.”
Two new council members, Hamakua Councilwoman Heather Kimball, and North Kona Councilman Holeka Inaba, replaced term-limited council members Valerie Poindexter and Karen Eoff, respectively.
History was made as well with the swearing in of the youngest elected prosecutor in the history of the county, 33-year-old Kelden Waltjen, son of outgoing Parks and Recreation Director and 30-year county employee Roxcie Waltjen. The new prosecuting attorney pledged to push for stiffer penalties for the more serious criminal offenders, while beefing up prevention programs to keep would-be offenders from choosing the wrong path.
Former Mayor Billy Kenoi, appearing in council chambers for the first time since he left office in 2016, praised the new council and administration during a keynote address. Kenoi, still recovering from a long battle with myelofibrosis, a type of leukemia, paused several times during his 18-minute speech to adjust the oxygen flowing through a nasal cannula that snaked under his mask.
“This is such an exciting and challenging time to be leading,” Kenoi said. “I feel very good about the people we have and our ability to overcome the challenges we face.”
“You know, things turn out the best for the people who make the best of how things turn out,” said Kenoi, who battled not only cancer but a grand jury indictment for misuse of his county purchasing card during his last year in office. He was subsequently cleared at trial.
Kenoi urged the leaders not to be afraid to be visionary.
“Tough times no last, tough people do,” he said, lapsing into his trademark pidgin.