Hawaii Inaugurates a New Governor

My apologies for neglecting this blog for more than the usual few days, but I have been in Honolulu to attend the inauguration of a long-time friend, Neil Abercrombie, as Governor of Hawaii. This is really the culmanation of a 35 year career in public service for Neil — Honolulu City Council, Hawaii State House, Hawaii State Senate and, 10 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Neil Abercrombie moments after being sworn in as Governor of Hawaii. I was right there cheering with the rest of the crowd of several thousand.

The inauguration took place on the grounds of Iolani Palace, the home of Hawaiian monarchs and for many years the state capitol, housing both the governor and the legislature.

Neil is a man of great wit, who takes his responsibilities very seriously. But he does not take himself seriously … for instance, claiming to be “vertically challenged.” Neil is, you see, just a bit over 5’5″.

At his first news conference as governor, when introducing his new budget director, Neil lowered his voice conspiratorially, mugged at the assembled reporters, and said, “Budget and Finance is a deep mystery, you must be very wary and not cross them; the only one you have to fear more is the Department of Accounting and General Services, everyone knows they secretly plot.”

At any rate, it was a wonderful, joyous, uniquely Hawaiian — and uniqely Abercrombie –occasion.