On Kaua'i, Mayor Bryan Baptiste won re-election.

Tavares, a former educator and county parks director under Mayor Linda Lingle, has reached her five-term limit on the council. If she eventually wins the mayor's race, it would be the first time that a parent and offspring have held mayoral posts in the Islands. Her late father, Hannibal Tavar-es, was Maui County mayor throughout the 1980s.

Earlier last night, she said she was surprised to find herself with a healthy lead after the first vote count, but had gotten a sense from talking to voters that many are seeking a change.

"A lot of the people I've talked to said my best asset is that I'm a bridge-builder. I can work with all kinds of groups ... and I listen to people and am inclusive — that's what people are looking for: someone who can work with other people," she said.

During the campaign, Tavares had criticized Arakawa's management style, which she said has divided parts of the community.

Arakawa said he was "comfortable" with the results. "Our job is to get through the primary, and it looks very good," he said.

Arakawa said issues such as affordable housing will take centerstage during the general election.

"Once we start discussing the issues, it's a whole different ballgame," he said.

Baptiste was a heavy favorite heading into the primary, with his most serious opposition coming from former Councilman Jesse Fukushima.

"I think it says that a majority of the people like what we've been able to do," Baptiste said last night.

In the seven-seat Kaua'i council primary, all six incumbents in the race, plus former Councilman Ron Kouchi, filled the top seven positions in the slate of 14 candidates headed to the general election.

On the Big Island, where there is no mayor's race, a majority on the nine-seat County Council won re-election last night, including Chairman Stacy Higa of Hilo/Keaukaha. Any candidate with more than 50 percent of the primary vote won election.

Councilman Bob Jacobson of Ka'u/South Kona locked up his seat, and incumbent Pete Hoffmann of Kohala fended off a challenge from former Councilman Leningrad Elarionoff.

Newcomer J Yoshimoto defeated Paula Helfrich for the Waiakea/Kea'au seat and Dominic Yagong won the Hamakua Coast seat over incumbent Fred Holschuh.

Forced into runoffs were Puna Councilman Gary Safarik, behind challenger Emily Naeole; and Councilwoman Virginia Isbell, who failed to secure 50 percent in her Keauhou/Kealakekua district.

Only two of nine Maui council seats were contested in the primary, with county public works employees Bill Medeiros and Sam Kalalau of East Maui certain to advance to the general election.