Hawaii senators take oath during opening of legislative session at state Capitol
The 33rd biennial session of the Hawaii Legislature opened Wednesday at the state Capitol with the usual pageantry and entertainment, but also unusual displays of internal discord on both the House and Senate floors.
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Senate president Ronald Kouchi, bottom right, watches as Hawaii senators arrive and take their seats during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the Senate chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Senate president Ronald Kouchi, middle, and vice president Michelle Kidani, left, arrive during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the Senate chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Hawaii senators stand to take their oath, administered by Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, top right, during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the Senate chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Keiki from Kamehameha Schools observe from the gallery in the Senate Chamber during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Members of the House take their oaths during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the House chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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House Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto speaks during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the House chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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House speaker Nadine Nakayama speaks during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the House chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto, right, claps with fellow Representatives during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the House chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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New Hawaii state representatives stand during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the House chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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House vice speaker Linda Ichiyama, left, listens as speaker Nadine Nakayama delivers remarks during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the House chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Senate Minority Leader Brenton Awa speaks during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the Senate chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Senators Mike Gabbard, right, Donna Mercado Kim, and Chris Lee applaud after Senate Majority Leader Brenton Awa’s speech during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the Senate chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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A standing-room-only crowd observes from the gallery in the Senate Chamber during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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House speaker Nadine Nakayama, left, and vice speaker Linda Ichiyama smile while at the podium during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the House chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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House speaker Nadine Nakayama, right, takes the podium for the first time, as Rep. Matthias Kusch cheers at left during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the House chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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House speaker Nadine Nakayama, second from left, embraces Rep. Matthias Kusch, left, while taking to the podium for the first time, escorted by Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto, second from right, and Majority Leader Sean Quinlan during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the House chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Rep. Gregg Takayama, right, shakes hands with Rep. Adrian Tam during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the House chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Senate president Ronald Kouchi speaks during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the Senate chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Senate president Ronald Kouchi speaks during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the Senate chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Hawaii senators Angus McKelvey, left, and Jarrett Keohokalole shake hands after taking their oaths, administered by Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the Senate chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Rev. Ai Hironaka of the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii pauses while speaking during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the Senate chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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Senator Lorraine Inouye speaks during the opening of the 33rd Hawaii State Legislature sessions in the Senate chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the State Capitol in Honolulu.
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