Opening day of the legislative session combines the awkward jitters of the first day of school, the garish preening of a car show, the earnest petitions of a worship service and the forced chitchat of a company party.

The whole thing smells vaguely of pork. Literal pork. No matter how many puakenikeni and double pikake lei there are (not too many this year, actually), the state Capitol on opening day always has that wafting scent of steamed manapua.

This year’s opening was decidedly low-key. It used to be tricky to thread through the crowds while holding a miniplate of manapua. Then Colleen Hanabusa nixed opening-day parties and entertainment during the recession. She set the tone for years to come.

So who set the tone for the 2016 session?

Senate President Ron Kouchi kept it business-cas-ual and task-oriented in his opening speech. He cautioned against dismissing the homeless as different from the rest of us, and recalled his mom working and saving and finally getting government help to buy a house. “The majority of the people here are that kind of people,” Kouchi said. “If given the opportunity and the support, they will make Hawaii the greatest place on Earth.” Kouchi called for civil discourse, a search for solutions, practical things and practical approaches.

House Speaker Joe Souki ran a looser show on his side of the building. A woman who gave the opening oli (chant) concluded with the blunt comment that the state was an illegal government. She was told mahalo, and the proceedings proceeded as if nothing happened. Souki then challenged lawmakers to be bold even in an election year.

Outside, Kauai Councilman Gary Hooser — himself a former senator — puffed around the courtyard directing people on how to place the chairs for the noon We Hate Everything rally, hopinghopinghoping that someone would say, “Hey! Glad to see you back in Honolulu! We gotta get you in higher office someday!”

Some had a very specific tone they wanted to set for the session. For themselves.

Maybe the one who will shape and inspire this legislative session is quiet Breene Harimoto. Sen. Harimoto was there among his fellow lawmakers, smiling but so thin in his dark suit and ice-blue tie, his maile lei hanging down to his knees. Burly Ron Kouchi looked so hale and robust next to Harimoto, like maybe the two shouldn’t hug. (They did and it was fine.)

Harimoto has been going through treatment for pancreatic cancer — major surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation — since last summer. He set a goal to be well enough to serve in the Legislature this session. He acknowledged that his chances weren’t very good, but he had unwavering faith. He believed that the work he was called to do for the people of Hawaii was all the reason he needed to keep going. He kept going.

If Harimoto can be the symbol of this legislative session — service over self, humble strength, courage to rise up from adversity — a symbol not just for lawmakers, but also for citizens, good might actually be accomplished.

Reach Lee Cataluna at 529-4315 or lcataluna@staradvertiser.com.