Reapportionment, following recent years of growth in West Oahu communities, produced shifts in district lines pushing eastward. That has shaken up several incumbencies in the state House and given voters a chance to consider new representation for the next two-year term.

Traffic and other impacts of that growth rank among the leading issues for several of these candidates. So do the concern about the needs of elders in what are now aging communities, as well as the ongoing worries about school facilities and other challenges in the education of the next generation.

The 10 districts extending from West Honolulu into Central Oahu and to the edges of Pearl Harbor include two where incumbents will return to the Capitol unchallenged: Democratic state Reps. Roy Takumi in the 36th District (Pearl City-Waipio-Pearl Harbor) and Henry Aquino in the 38th (Waipahu). In three more — Districts 32, 37 and 39, encompassing Salt Lake, Moanalua, Mililani, Waipio, Waikele, and parts of Waipahu and Makakilo — there will be no contest until November’s general election.

But there are decisions for Democrats and, in one case in this group, Republicans to make in primary polling. Here are the Star-Advertiser’s endorsements:

>> District 30 (Sand Island-Kalihi-Airport): Term limits constrain City Councilman Romy Cachola, 74, from seeking re-election in Honolulu Hale, so he is retrying for the House, where he served for 16 years. Cachola has found himself in the crosshairs of several issues over the years, most notably the rail project and, more recently, opposing a critical improvement to the Sand Island sewage plant. Even without these positions, we see an opportunity to recommend his opponent, Nicole Velasco, 26. The analyst in the state auditor’s office and, previously, for the House Finance Committee, is a Princeton University graduate with thoughtful positions on several issues. She’s got a community-service record and sits on the Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board.

>> District 31 (Fort Shafter-Moanalua Gardens-Aliamanu): Republican incumbent Rep. Aaron Ling Johanson, unopposed in the primary, will face the winner of this three-way Democratic race. Danny Villaruz, 61, is the Star-Advertiser’s pick here. He touts his experience as senior tax auditor in the state Department of Taxation’s compliance division among his skills, and  is an active volunteer for agencies such as the Institute for Human Services and the Hawaii Food Bank. Public education improvements and job-creating policies  top his list of concerns. Villaruz’ rivals for the nomination are Lei Sharsh and Lynne Gutierrez.

>> District 33 (Halawa-Aiea-Newtown): Democrats face a choice between two incumbents, both with solid party credentials. Heather Giugni, 58, is a professional filmmaker who this year was appointed to her seat when Rep. Tom Okamura resigned for health reasons. But though reapportionment has changed much of his electorate, K. Mark Takai has a far more substantial record, with 18 years in the House. The Star-Advertiser hasn’t always agreed with his positions, including those seeking emergency intervention in school bus service cuts. But he is an outspoken community advocate, which his new district needs. The winner here will face Republican Sam Kong in the general.

>> District 34 (Pearl City-Waimalu-Pacific Palisades): Eloise Yamashita Tungpalan served in the Senate and House for a combined 14 years. She left her post, after compiling a solid record, to care for her dying father-in-law. However, the Star-Advertiser is interested in adding new political voices so supports former journalist Gregg Takayama, 59. His previous political involvement was as a media spokesman (he also worked for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and KHON-TV). But he has pledged to be an advocate for implementing the Long Term Care Commission recommendations, which would be a service to his aging community.

>> District 36 (Mililani-Mililani Mauka-Waipio Acres): Here the race is in the GOP primary, with Beth Fukumoto and Mel Apana contending for the right to challenge state Rep. Marilyn Lee in November. Fukumoto, director of research for the minority caucus, is the clear choice, having already shown her leadership capacity by stepping up as interim chairwoman of the Republican Party of Hawaii. Fukumoto, 29, favors a halt on tax increases and the development of industries that capitalize on the current Asia economic focus.

>> District 40 (Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point): There is no incumbent here, though Republican Bob McDermott, running unopposed in the primary, has held a House seat before. The two standout Democratic candidates are Chris Manabat, 27, and Rose Martinez, 54, who both worked on staff with Rep. Rida Cabanilla, reapportioned into another district. Our vote goes to Manabat, the office manager for six years, who has a clear grasp of key community issues. The No. 1 problem he cited is the need for infrastructure improvements in advance of new development, something that concerns most of the traffic-plagued constituency.