Most incumbents handily won re-election to the Kailua Neighborhood Board, beating back challengers who were dissatisfied with the board's stand on a controversial vacation rental debate in the Windward community.

Thirteen of 15 incumbents seeking a return to their office in Kailua won re-election, according to islandwide Neighborhood Board results announced this week.

They were among 387 people elected islandwide to serve on 32 boards that act in an advisory capacity to the Honolulu government.

Sixty-two other seats that had no candidates will be filled later by appointment of those who were elected.

In Kailua, one of the most hotly contested areas, the results were seen as vindication for current board members who have repeatedly voted to crack down on unpermitted bed-and-breakfast or temporary vacation rental operations. Such operations have proliferated in Windward and North Shore residential communities in recent years.

Faith Evans, the only member of the Kailua board not to seek re-election, said the results showed that people supported the direction the board has taken on the vacation rental issue. "Many of the board members who have worked hardest on this were the ones who ended up with the highest vote counts," Evans said.

Kathy Bryant-Hunter, the chairwoman of the board who was re-elected, saw a broader benefit to the community.

"I think the debate has been good for the whole system," said Bryant-Hunter. "We've had more people vote than ever before and it shows that people are interested in what's happening to their neighborhoods."

'EWA CHAIRMAN OUT

Elsewhere around the island, Neighborhood Board results ranged from mildly surprising to ho-hum.

One of the bigger surprises was the defeat of Kurt Fevella, the chairman of the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board. He represented area residents who favor closing neighborhood parks at night, an issue that has divided the community in recent months. Favella finished eighth in the race for five seats in his sub-district.

In Waimanalo, longtime board member Mabel Ann Spencer, who recently spearheaded efforts to bring the Waimanalo Wastewater Treatment Plant up to date and is known for helping get the Waimanalo Health Center open, won't be returning.

Art Machado, an old-timer with the Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board, and Warren Soh, with the Ko'olauloa Neighborhood Board also were voted off. Machado has had a long involvement with the Kane'ohe Christmas Parade and other community events throughout the years.

In Nu'uanu, there was a tough race among eight contenders for five spots in sub-district 3. The top vote-getter for the seat, with 738 votes, was Paula Kurashige, a Nu'uanu/Punchbowl Neighborhood Board member since 1992. Honolulu police detective Alex Garcia narrowly lost his bid for a seat, coming in with 470 votes — 31 fewer than incumbent Philip Nerney.

The top-vote getter for the Downtown board was newcomer Frank Lavoie, a resident of Chinatown Gateway Plaza and owner of a small cafe who said, "Current board meetings have the tone of a memorial service." He got onto the board by promising to better involve the community in discussions.

EX-LEGISLATORS WIN

Former state Sen. Brian Kanno won a seat on the Makakilo Board, and former state Rep. Anne Stevens was elected to the Ala Moana/Kaka'ako board for the first time. However, Romy Mindo, another former state representative, did not succeed in his bid to be elected in 'Ewa.

On the North Shore, there was a tie for a fourth seat in District 2 between Ollie Lunasco and Alfred "Barney" Oga. By Neighbhorhood Commission rules, the two will draw straws to see who gets the seat.

Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen was the top-vote getter in the overall election, drawing 2,437 votes to win an at-large seat on the Hawai'i Kai board. Only two other candidates, A.J. Halagao in Hawai'i Kai and Jane Sugimura in 'Aiea, garnered more than 2,000 votes.

On the other hand, nearly half of the successful candidates ran unopposed. As a result, their names did not appear on the 231,351 ballots mailed to residents and they were automatically elected to their seats.

In all, 44,047 votes were cast in the elections for the boards, a 19 percent turnout. Of those, 4,030 voted online, an option offered for the first time this year.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.