HONOLULU -- Billy Kenoi is now the new mayor of the Big Island and Bernard Carvalho Jr. was sworn in Monday as Kauai mayor.

Carvalho won the mayor's seat in a landslide victory in November in a special election following the sudden death of Mayor Bryan Baptiste.

A brief Hawaiian chant and procession preceded Carvalho's swearing in at Kauai's War Memorial Convention Hall.

"And that I will, faithfully discharge my duty as mayor of the county of Kauai to the best of my ability," Carvalho said.

There was thunderous applause after Carvalho took his oath of office.

He will fill the remaining two-year term left by Baptiste who died of a heart attack last June.

"His love for Kauai and his unfailing devotion to the people he so wanted to help," Carvalho said. "It is now our job to fill the rest of the pages of this book."

Carvalho said his administration will cut costs, reduce air travel and conserving energy.

"We'll also be focusing on agriculture, growing more of what we eat, right here on Kaua and growing our own energy," Carvalho said.

The former professional football player was head of Kauai's parks department before running for mayor.

On the Big Island, the Hawaii County Band played before Billy Kenoi was sworn in as the island's youngest mayor elected at age 39.

Kenoi is a former Honolulu deputy public defender and once served as executive assistant to Big Island Mayor Harry Kim.

Kenoi told the crowd at Hilo's Civic Auditorium there are many pressing issues, but in the meantime there is one pressing issue.

"Everyone is going to have to focus on the economy," Kenoi said.

Sen. Dan Akaka and former Big Island mayors attended the ceremony with the exception of retiring Mayor Harry Kim. Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann also flew over for the event saying county governments should work closely together.