Peter Carlisle

Keith Kaneshiro

Carlisle said he likes to think that O'ahu residents voted for him because accomplishments by his office, law enforcement agencies and the community in dealing with crystal methamphetamine show that they are moving in the right direction.

"If the ship is on course, you don't start retreating into the past," he said.

Former Attorney General Margery Bronster, a Carlisle supporter, said the voters chose Carlisle because he has done a good job.

"He's been handling matters and not shying away from things that may be difficult or politically charged," she said.

Kevin Takata, a city deputy prosecutor in charge of the office's trial division, agreed.

"He doesn't make decisions based on politics or personalities, just on the evidence and that's the way it should be."

At challenger Kaneshiro's headquarters, under striped awnings beside the Hawai'i Maritime Center, hundreds of supporters groaned in disappointment when the first returns came in.

George Waialeale, a Kaneshiro backer, called the results "unfortunate."

"Keith's a good man, but I think he started the race too late," Waialeale said.

Kaneshiro was greeted with lei, hugs and handshakes by supporters with glistening eyes after vote tallies showed Carlisle with a commanding lead. He thanked his supporters, saying they should be proud of their efforts.

"We delivered a message that hopefully changed our community and our city that we need to make combating drug abuse a priority," he said.

He also thanked the State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers for its endorsement and "sticking their neck out on the line" with its support.

He said it was a tough campaign. "When you run against an incumbent, it's difficult. You start with almost two strikes against you."

The city prosecutor's position is the only elected city post that is not covered by term limits.

Three men have served as prosecutor since the office became an elective position in 1980, each for two terms.

Charles Marsland served for eight years before Kaneshiro's two terms and Carlisle's current tenure.

The position pays an annual salary of $99,807.

Both tough-on-crime candidates were well known to voters and their platforms were similar with their emphasis on combating the island's crystal meth amphetamine problem through prevention, treatment and prison for hard-core repeat offenders.

But they presented different approaches to dealing with crime as the head of an office with a yearly $14 million budget and a staff of 250, including more than 100 deputy prosecutors.

Carlisle, 51, personally handled the trials for more than a half-dozen of his office's high-profile cases. The prosecutor, he says, should be "vocal, visible and verbal."

Kaneshiro, 55, defeated Carlisle's supervisor, Marsland, in 1988, but decided not to seek a third term. In late June, he announced he would seek a return to the office.

He stressed a cooperative, united effort against crime and drug abuse.

Staff writer Jim Dooley contributed to this report.