The normally empty open-air rotunda at the Capitol was quickly filling up with people Monday morning for David Ige’s swearing-in ceremony.

The longtime state lawmaker is set to become Hawaii’s eighth elected governor at noon. 

An estimated 2,000 chairs have been set up along with a stage where Ige and his lieutenant governor, Shan Tsutsui, will take their oaths of office.

Chairs in the Hawaii Capitol rotunda are starting to fill up as people rehearse before the crowds arrive for David Ige’s inauguration ceremony Monday.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

The morning ceremony is expected to involve students from Ige’s alma mater, Pearl City High School; a procession of veterans, including the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team who will be carrying a flag from the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye; Raiatea Helm singing the national anthem; Pomaikai Lyman and the Kahaluu Elementary School Ukulele Choir singing Hawaii Ponoi; and an invocation by the Rev. Danny Akaka Jr.

After Ige and Tsutsui are sworn in, the afternoon’s festivities are slated to include dancing that happens to represent a wide range of constituents. There will be taiko drums and shishimai lion dogs; Miss Oahu Filipina doing a bamboo dance and some flamenco; a Japanese minyo classical dance; Scottish pipes and drums (and dancing); Korean classical dancing; and of course hula.

Civil Beat will be following the action throughout the day.