Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann was the only mayor to skip Gov. Linda Lingle's State of the State address yesterday, opting instead to deliver remarks at the opening of a federal census bureau office in Honolulu.

Hannemann was asked several weeks ago by U.S. Census Bureau officials in Los Angeles to speak at the office opening, according to the city.

Hannemann sent Managing Director Kirk Caldwell to the state House chamber to take his place next to Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares, Hawai'i County Mayor William P. Kenoi, and Kaua'i County Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.

"I told the mayor that to the extent I can help him with his very busy public schedule I would like to do that," said Caldwell, speaking after Lingle's address.

A chill in the Hannemann-Lingle relationship was amplified last week when the Lingle administration suggested diverting the rail transit tax for a year to help make up the state's budget deficit.

Lingle attended the Jan. 2 swearing-in of the Honolulu City Council but skipped Hannemann's inaugural address at the Hawai'i Theatre and the block party that evening. Lingle last attended a Hannemann event in 2005 when she went to Hannemann's inauguration in the courtyard at Honolulu Hale, according to city officials.

Following a meeting of the four county mayors and local business leaders at the Plaza Club in December, Lingle invited the mayors to lunch. All but Hannemann attended.

Lingle spokesman Russell Pang said Hannemann and Lingle soon will meet with the other county mayors to discuss collective bargaining.

"They've seen each other at other events, not necessarily at the Capitol and not necessarily at Honolulu Hale, and scheduling conflicts do arise," said Pang.