A move to oust Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson as Council vice chairman was shelved just before a vote on the maneuver was to happen Wednesday.

Councilman Trevor Ozawa asked colleagues to kill Resolution 16-167, a measure he introduced, that would have inserted Councilman Joey Manahan as second-in-command behind Chairman Ernie Martin, replacing Anderson.

Whether Anderson retains his post as chairman of the influential Zoning and Planning Committee remains to be seen.

Neither Martin, Ozawa nor Anderson, the three main characters in the political drama that played out at Honolulu Hale in recent days, ruled out any changes in committee makeup.

In pulling his resolution, Ozawa denied reports in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that he introduced the measure as part of a personal conflict he’s had with Anderson following a testy Zoning and Planning Committee meeting last month.

“We may disagree at times,” Ozawa said. “We’re all passionately advocating for our districts, first and foremost. But that doesn’t lead to adoption of a resolution relating to the officers of the Council. The focus of our work should always be about improving the quality of life for all, and I’m committed to doing just that.”

Ozawa said he introduced his resolution only in response to Anderson’s introduction of Resolution 16-165, proposing Councilwoman Kymberly Pine be the new vice chairwoman. Anderson told the Star-Advertiser last week that he introduced his proposal after hearing that several Council members wanted him out of leadership.

But while Ozawa’s resolution was placed on Wednesday’s agenda by Martin, Anderson’s was not.

Martin, Anderson and others hinted at some of the behind-closed-doors machinations of recent days.

“Sometimes our emotions get the best of us, but that doesn’t prevent us from moving forward and acting in a professional manner,” Martin said. Sometimes, he said, “there are disagreements that may impose irrational behaviors on some of us, and I’m probably the worst at that, being that I’m part Portuguese.”

Anderson said he hoped Council members communicate with each other better in the future. “I would also suggest, Mr. Chairman, that when there are any disagreements or pilikia between people, rather than going to discuss with one individual any issues that you may have with another individual, talk to the individual directly, yeah? That’s always been my style.” (“Pilikia” means “trouble” in Hawaiian.)

Anderson said “that’s local style, that’s the local way and I think that’s the best way to do business.”

Pine said she was “disappointed” by the political machinations and urged her colleagues to “stick together a little while longer” and focus on fixing the problems tied to the city’s $8 billion rail project.

Anderson said last week he was told by Martin that he was to be replaced as zoning chairman by Ozawa, currently the zoning vice chairman. Committee assignments are the purview of Martin, as chairman.

Martin said the public can expect committee changes in the future, although he declined to say when or involving which assignments.