Mazie Hirono, Tulsi Gabbard, Colleen Hanabusa, Kirk Caldwell, Billy Kenoi and a host of others elected to Hawaii offices as low turnout, ballot shortages plague polls

Hawaii vote counting center (c) Robert D. Harris

Despite lower voter turnout compared with 2008, at least 21 polling places on Oahu ran out of paper ballots Tuesday, making for long lines and long waits for hundreds of voters, some of whom decided the wait to cast a ballot wasn’t worth the time. Star-Advertiser.

Several polling places on Oahu ran out of paper ballots Tuesday, causing long lines at electronic voting machines and forcing many people to walk away in frustration without casting a vote. Associated Press.

A combination of higher than expected turn out and poor management, 19 polling places on the island of Oahu ran out of paper ballots on Tuesday afternoon. Hawaii Reporter.

Hot races including a tight contest involving our own homegrown presidential contender couldn't shake Hawaii voters' continued apathy toward elections. Civil Beat.

President Barack Obama may be the leader of the free world, but here in Hawaii, in the place he calls home, he’s something more special than that. Star-Advertiser.

President Barack Obama may be the leader of the free world, but here in Hawaii, in the place he calls home, he’s something more special than that. Star-Advertiser.

Mazie Hirono (c) 2012 all Hawaii News

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono defeated former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle on Tuesday night to become Hawaii’s next U.S. senator, prevailing in a race many believed key to shifting power dynamics in Congress. Associated Press.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono claimed victory over former Gov. Linda Lingle Tuesday night, becoming the first Asian-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Rep. Mazie Hirono will be the first Asian-American woman to hold a U.S. Senate seat after she soundly beat another former governor Linda Lingle with 63 percent of the vote. KITV4.

With a 107,000 votes lead, Democrat Mazie Hirono defeated Republican Linda Lingle for the U.S. Senate seat. Hawaii News Now.

Mazie Hirono has defeated Linda Lingle for the U.S. Senate. Civil Beat.

Democrat Mazie Hirono defeated former Gov. Linda Lingle Tuesday in the race to succeed retiring Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka in the U.S. Senate. Pacific Business News.

Democratic U.S. Rep Colleen Hanabusa won re-election to Hawaii's 1st Congressional District, holding off Republican Charles Djou. Pacific Business News.

Democrat Tulsi Gabbard won the race for Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District Tuesday with an overwhelming lead over her Republican challenger. Pacific Business News.

There’s little doubt that Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii’s “it girl,” is heading to Washington D.C. Civil Beat.

Former Honolulu City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard won an easy victory over little-known Republican Kawika Crowley tonight to take the U.S. House seat for Congressional District 2. Star-Advertiser.

Riding the strength of President Obama’s re-election, the Democrats strengthened their dominance at the state Legislature, picking up one seat in the House while maintaining their 24-1 stronghold in the Senate. Star-Advertiser.

State constitutional amendment proposals allowing state court judges to serve temporarily after age 69 and easing the financing of repairs to high-risk agricultural reservoirs and dams were narrowly defeated in Tuesday’s general election. Star-Advertiser.

 Oahu
Starting from a distant third place behind two well-known challengers at the start of the year, Kirk Caldwell completed his surge Tuesday by topping former Gov. Ben Cayetano in the race for Hono­lulu mayor and earning the right to continue overseeing the progress of the city's $5.26 billion rail transit project. Star-Advertiser.

Former Honolulu managing director Kirk Caldwell rolled to victory Tuesday night, defeating former Gov. Ben Cayetano to become Honolulu’s next mayor. Civil Beat.

Kirk Caldwell was elected Honolulu mayor Tuesday, defeating former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano in a contest that was centered on the city's $5.16 billion rail transit project. Pacific Business News.

With nearly 85% of voters in a recent Hawaii News Now poll saying that the rail issue would have an impact on their vote for Honolulu mayor, the 2012 general election showed that Hawaii voters favored the candidate who is committed to seeing the project continue. Hawaii News Now.

City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro defeated former Honolulu city Deputy Prosecutor Kevin Takata for a four-year term to head the office that prosecutes most of the criminal cases on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Voters were rejecting the outspoken and sometimes controversial Honolulu City Councilman Tom Berg tonight, and instead appeared to be choosing state Rep. Kymberly Marcos Pine as the new councilwoman to represent the Leeward Coast, Kapolei and parts of Ewa. Star-Advertiser.

Kymberly Pine has beat Tom Berg in the race for the Honolulu City Council District 1 seat. KHON2.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi will serve another four years, after slapping away a spirited challenge from his old boss, former Mayor Harry Kim. West Hawaii Today.

Billy Kenoi narrowly won another four years as mayor Tuesday in a nailbiter election against his challenger and former boss, Harry Kim. Tribune-Herald.

Mitch Roth, a deputy prosecuting attorney, bested Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida by just 94 votes Tuesday evening to become the county’s next prosecutor. West Hawaii Today.

Ford returns to council; Wille defeats Shimaoka. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County voters expanded their support for public land purchases Tuesday evening, embracing two measures that increased the minimum set aside to buy those lands and creating a fund to maintain the property. West Hawaii Today.

Voters OK five Charter changes, reject state amendments. Tribune-Herald.

Third returns, all precincts reporting. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County voters rejected four-year terms for council members, keeping the two-year term status quo. But voters approved all 10 other proposed amendments to the Maui County Charter. Maui News.

Maui has a new state representative and two new council members following yesterday’s 2012 general election. Maui Now.

Voters and election officials on Maui are reporting a smooth opening of polling places in Maui County. Maui Now.

Kauai

Voters and election volunteers said Tuesday’s general election went smoothly, with large turnouts and short lines, if any at all. Garden Island.

Sen. Ron Kouchi, D-Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau, easily won re-election Tuesday, topping his Republican challenger William Georgi by 12,748 votes. Garden Island.

The Kaua‘i County Council will have a slightly new formation as of Dec. 1, with math teacher Ross Kagawa and former state Sen. Gary Hooser replacing council members Dickie Chang and KipuKai Kuali‘i. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i voters said “yes” Tuesday to five amendments to the Kaua‘i County Charter and turned down three amendments. Garden Island.