LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Kaua'i Mayor Bill "Kaipo" Asing promised hard work on tough issues such as property tax reform and designating important agricultural lands at his brief swearing-in ceremony yesterday.

With dozens of city workers, officials, friends and family looking on, Asing took the oath of office from Kaua'i Circuit Court Chief Judge Randal Valenciano shortly after 9 a.m. yesterday.

"Wow," were the new mayor's first words on the job, as he looked skyward in the atrium of the Mo'ikeha administration building. Heavy rain in the early morning cleared in time for the short ceremony.

Asing, 77, called for a moment of silence honoring the late Mayor Bryan Baptiste, who died in office on June 22. He then assured city workers that everyone will retain their jobs during his 4 1/2-month term.

Asing was appointed by his colleagues on the County Council to serve as mayor until Dec. 1. Asing, who has served 24 years on the council and once ran unsuccessfully for mayor, said he will not run in the Sept. 20 special election to fill the remaining two years of Baptiste's four-year term.

Kaua'i council members JoAnn Yukimura and Mel Rapozo and county parks director Bernard Carvalho Jr. have announced they are running for mayor. Candidate filing closes Tuesday.

KANESHIRO APPOINTED

The council voted 5-0 yesterday to appoint former Councilman Daryl Kaneshiro to serve in Asing's council seat until Dec. 1. Kaneshiro, 59, said he hasn't decided if he will run for a council seat in the fall.

Asing pledged to work with the council "so we will be able to look back and take pride in what we accomplished." He said he doesn't expect to start any new initiatives, but will tackle several heavy subjects that are on the mayor's and council's agenda, including property tax reform, designation of important agricultural lands and addressing the proliferation of residential subdivisions on agricultural lands and whether to ban gated communities on Kaua'i.

"I will be expressing my own views, thoughts and ideas on these and other important matters," Asing said. But he declined to discuss specifics with reporters yesterday.

Asing also said he'll seek a solution to concerns about the number of boats that leave Hanalei and take tourists to the Na Pali Coast, an area accessible only by boat or by long hikes over land.

Asing said he'll reach out to the environmental, business and labor sectors, "looking for solutions that enhance our community and bring us together."

Gary Heu, Baptiste's administrative assistant who has been acting mayor for a month, praised Asing as a practical person.

One of Asing's frequent questions when approaching a situation is "what is reasonable," Heu said.

"Because time is short, I fully realize that all the things the administration wants to get done may not be finished in the next 4 1/2 months," Asing said.

Asing said he plans to continue Baptiste's tradition of weekly city department head meetings, starting Monday morning.

Incumbent council members Asing, Ron Kouchi, Tim Bynum and Jay Furfaro are seeking re-election to council. Councilwoman Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho is running, so far unopposed, for county prosecutor.