Mary Oshiro, state House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro's mother, usually recruits aunties, cousins and neighbors to bake homemade desserts for Opening Day of the state Legislature each January.

The lawmaker's favorite: a peanut butter-and-chocolate Rice Krispie delight.

This January, though, there will be no treats. State House and Senate leaders have ordered austerity on Opening Day because of the recession.

"There will be no entertainment, no flowers, no festivities or subsequent receptions, as has been the tradition in years past," wrote state House Speaker Calvin Say, D-20th (St. Louis Heights, Pälolo Valley, Wilhelmina Rise), and state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Nänäkuli, Mäkaha), in a letter to past guests and VIPs on Dec. 4.

"Speeches will be abbreviated, and instead of being platforms for caucus agendas, will be focused on the joint effort required of us all, working together," they said in their letter.

The state is projecting a $1 billion budget deficit through June 2011. A report released this week by the National Conference of State Legislatures pegged Hawai'i's budget deficit at $683 million this fiscal year — or 13 percent of the state's general-fund budget — and $1.1 billion by fiscal year 2011 — or 21.2 percent of the general-fund budget — which places the state's budget gap as among the worst in the nation.

Gov. Linda Lingle and state House and Senate leaders, who sliced $800 million in state spending last session, are bracing for further cuts to state programs and are considering a range of revenue-generating ideas. The governor has said further layoffs of state workers are possible.

An Opening Day party on Jan. 20, given the fiscal climate, could set the wrong tone for the 60-day session, lawmakers believe. Even though the celebrations typically involve little public money — some entertainers may get honorariums; some lawmakers may pay for refreshments out of their legislative allowances — it is the symbolism that worries leadership.

"It's impossible to do it half-way," said Hanabusa, whose friends and supporters cook Hawaiian food for what is generally considered the best spread at the state Capitol.

"We just feel it's too difficult a time."

Veteran lawmakers and staffers could not recall an Opening Day without some type of festivities.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, lawmakers scaled back the celebration the following January as they were preparing to tackle a projected $300 million shortfall.

Still, there were performances by singer Amy Hänaiali'i Gilliom, the Honolulu Symphony and others.

CHARITABLE DONATIONS URGED

Hazy days of alcohol-fueled Opening Day blowouts with lobbyists and insiders have long passed into history, but flowers, food and music have been staples.

Say and Hanabusa have asked people who have previously showered lawmakers with flowers or gift baskets to give to their favorite charities instead.

The House and Senate plan brief, concurrent opening sessions. Traditional speeches by leadership will be restrained. No guests will be allowed on the chamber floors, but people can watch from the galleries, like any other daily session.

Some lawmakers will likely still have low-key gatherings for family or friends who drop by their offices, but the order from leadership is nothing too lavish or visible.

Some staffers have grumbled privately that the directive is a little over the top — that there is nothing sinister about punch and pie — but most have accepted the order in the spirit of sacrifice.

"This is just the wrong time to be having any sort of celebration," said Oshiro, D-33rd ('Äiea, Hälawa Valley, 'Äiea Heights).

But what about his mother's baked delights?

"She was kind of sad," Oshiro said. "I think she likes Opening Day more than I do. But she'll live with it."