The Honolulu City Council installed new leadership, but the move is clouded by an open investigation into whether council members broke the state's open-meeting law.

• The council voted in a new chair, vice chair, and floor leader, effective December.
• Five council members are accused of meeting privately at a restaurant to decide leadership roles before the official vote, which is against sunshine laws meant to keep government meetings open to the public.
• State investigators are looking into whether that meeting broke the law, so the new leadership picks are happening under a legal cloud.
• Because of council rules, this leadership lineup is temporary and will have to be redone again in January anyway.
• Critics say the vote locks in power ahead of the new council term; supporters say the city needs stable leadership now to handle budget and staffing decisions.

Outlook: Expect the investigation into the closed-door meeting to continue, with another leadership vote required in January regardless of its outcome.