Maui Mayor-elect Alan Arakawa and his cabinet members will be inaugurated into office tomorrow, Sunday, January 2, 2010 at the War Memorial Gym in Wailuku.

Alan Arakawa appeared in a UHMC Election Results simulcast with Pacific Radio Group. The former Mayor reclaimed his seat on the 9th floor after defeating incumbent Mayor Charmaine Tavares. Photo by Wendy Osher.

The event features a swearing-in ceremony, entertainment, prayer by various religious leaders, and light refreshments.

Entertainment begins at 4 p.m. with a ceremony to follow at 5 p.m.

The inaugural event was scheduled the day preceding the new administration’s first day of work so that Arakawa and his cabinet could hit the ground running, according to Mayoral Inauguration Committee co-chairs Sandy Baz and Lynn Araki-Regan.

“This is a community inauguration that will celebrate all the faces of Maui Nui and will be for all ages,” said Baz. “This is a great start to bring the community together,” he said.

Entertainment  includes Hawaiian Music Awards winner “Bradda Francis” Koahou and Grammy and Na Hoku Hanohano Award winning musician George Kahumoku Jr.

Attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food to be donated to Family Life Center, Feed My Sheep, Hale Kau Kau, and Maui Food Bank.

“Maui Nui residents are the most giving, caring people in the country,” said Araki-Regan. “We’re calling on that generous spirit at the start of the new year to help us provide food to those in need.”

(Posted by Wendy Osher, supporting information courtesy Arakawa Transition Team)