By Hugh Clark
Reprinted with permission
from the Honolulu Advertiser

HILO, Hawaii It was a love fest Dec. 4 as Big Islanders celebrated the inauguration of their new mayor, former Civil Defense chief Harry Kim.

Kim, 61, an atypical political candidate from the start when he refused contributions above $10, is the island’s seventh elected mayor and the first Korean American mayor elected by popular votes.

Four former mayors looked on during the noon ceremony at the Hilo civic complex that also installed nine council members and Prosecutor Jay Kimura.

The Rev. Henry Kahalehill, known as "Kahu Henry," set the tone for the program when he called on the 11 elected officials to "serve from the heart."

Kim pledged to do just that a few minutes later as he stood before a cheering crowd of 1,700.

During a campaign in which he easily swept past a dozen other candidates, Kim never said much about what he would do if elected.

He filled in none of the blanks during his brief, extemporaneous remarks in which he expressed his love for his family, lifelong friends and those who voted for him.

Kim said simply that his agenda is to earn the trust of voters over the next four years.

"I am what I am," he said, referring to his boyhood as the youngest of eight children of poor Korean immigrants who lived in a home without electricity or running water, "I love you all, and I thank you for loving me."

Kim and returning council chairman Jimmy Arakaki were both reared in the former Puna plantation village of Kea’au, once known as ‘la’a. Arakaki, a Democrat, used much of his time on the podium Dec. 4 to praise the Republican mayor, whom he described as the man who commanded a people’s army with handmade signs.

"He’s the talk of the town everywhere" said Arakaki, proclaiming that the days of partisan politics are over. "You (the voters) sent the message and we heard it; conversation instead of confrontation, results, not rhetoric."

Among those attending were Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and representatives of South Korea.