A crowd easily numbering over 1,000 has taken over the Capitol Rotunda this afternoon. Opponents of same-sex marriage, they chant in unison, “Let the people decide!”

On hand are Bishop Larry Silva, attorney James Hochberg and OHA Chairwoman Colette Machado, who told the crowd how proud she is to be a Christian. Inside the Capitol Auditorium is New Hope Pastor Wayne Cordeiro.

State Sen. Sam Slom, the lone Senate Republican, left the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee hearing on Senate Bill 1 (the same-sex marriage bill) to tell the crowd that his colleagues are afraid to have the people vote on a constitutional amendment question to settle the controversial issue.

Slom also predicted that the Senate committee hearing, which began at 10:30 a.m. and took 45 minutes for lunch, would not finish its work for three more hours today. Meanwhile, earlier today, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs issued this statement:

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has not taken any position on same-sex marriage. OHA has not funded any campaign or advertisements forwarding a particular viewpoint on the issue. In addition, any OHA official who has conveyed a position on same-sex marriage has done so in his or her personal capacity independently of OHA.

Photo: Colette Machado (at left) at Capitol Rotunda rally opposing same-sex marriage special session, Oct. 28. (Civil Beat)

—Chad Blair