When Gov. Linda Lingle took office in 2002, her inaugural speech included an ambitious promise of a new beginning for Hawai'i and nothing less than a change in the political culture of the Islands.

Four years later, Lingle said, her inaugural speech today will be quite different as she and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona are sworn in for their second term.

Last month's election indicated that voters aren't looking for much change. They brought the Republican administration back for another four years, along with a Legislature that's increasingly Democratic. Lingle is clearly aware of this political reality.

"A strong statement about our administration has been made, as opposed to the first time when nobody knew me," Lingle said. "We were re-elected in a tough year nationally and locally for other Republicans."

One key difference is that the state is now sitting on a budget surplus. When Lingle first took office, "We were in the doldrums economically," she said. "We needed to turn things around."

Now that the economy is improving, Lingle said today's speech will outline her vision for the future, beyond her final four years as governor. She said it is a vision that, for the first time, a Republican rather than a Democrat, can advance after a full term in office.

She anticipates the address will lead into the State of the State speech she will deliver to the state Legislature next month when she unveils her specific policy agenda for the next session.

Lingle declined to reveal any of the issues she plans to discuss in either speech, but she is expected to once again reach out to the Democratic majority in the Legislature, since without their cooperation, she is unlikely to see any of her initiatives pass.

House Speaker Calvin Say said he is willing to listen to any of the governor's ideas and said the Legislature and administration should be able to work together on any great ideas, no matter where they originate.

"I'm real excited to hear what she has in store for the next four years," he said. "By the time the new year begins, I'll have a better grasp of where she's at."

Say said he wants to hear the governor's thoughts on sustainability and disaster preparedness, education and affordable housing, all issues which the Legislature is interested in, as well.

"We'll be working collaboratively with the administration," he said.

Looking back to her first inaugural address, Say said that Lingle has led the state through a "new beginning" but he does not give her credit for helping the state move ahead economically.

"The seeds were already planted during the (former Gov. Ben) Cayetano administration," he said. "We planted the seeds and she sowed the benefits."

He said he can't recall any of Lingle's first-term accomplishments.

Looking ahead, he said the governor should focus on the basics: food, water, shelter and clothing.

"That's what I would focus my attention to for the next four years," he said.

Lingle said that she hopes that her vision for the future will strike a chord with lawmakers and members of the public listening to the speech.

As she speaks, she hopes she will raise some issues that have been on people's minds and offer some ideas they agree with.

She also hopes that she will offer a fresh perspective that will make people say, "I haven't thought of that quite that way before. That's very interesting."

"I'm really looking forward to it," she said.

The ceremony today is open to the public and seating for 1,000 will be available in the state Capitol rotunda on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pre-ceremony entertainment will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the processional will begin at 11:15, when guests will be asked to take their seats.

The swearing-in ceremony will begin at noon, with speeches by Aiona and Lingle to follow.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.