Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi will be in Washington, D.C., at about the same time as President-elect Barack Obama's imauguration next month.

But County Managing Director Bill Takaba says Kenoi may not be able to watch the swearing in of the first Hawai'i-born president because he doesn't have tickets.

Kenoi is due to be in the nation's capital on Jan. 17 through 19 to attend a U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting.

The inauguration is scheduled for Jan. 20.

Kenoi says he plans to lobby for federal money during the mayor's conference. He isn't optimistic he'll obtain inauguration tickets.

Kenoi says he wants to "secure more than" the Big Island's projected share of federal funding for local projects expected to be included in a national economic stimulus package.