Recent resolutions from Hawaii State Ethics Commission:

Nov 21: State Ethics Commission resolves charge against Paul Nash, Professor of Art in Ceramics, Windward Community College

The Charge arose from Respondent Nash’s actions as the instructor of a WCC noncredit ceramics class and the faculty advisor for the WCC Student Ceramics Club. The Charge alleged that Respondent Nash collected student lab fees for his noncredit ceramics classes, which he used for his personal benefit and other unauthorized purposes; sold clay to his students at an inflated price; and diverted lab fees and other monies to the Student Ceramics Club for his own personal benefit and other unauthorized uses. The Charge covered the time period of 2010 up to and including 2015.

Respondent Nash filed an answer to the Charge, dated August 8, 2015, generally denying the allegations against him. The Commission and Respondent Nash agreed to resolve the Charge with Respondent Nash’s payment of $15,000 to the State of Hawaii and the publication of this Resolution of Charge….

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Nov 21: State Ethics Commission resolves charge against Edward N. Chu, Chief Financial Officer, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation

On May 19, 2016, the Hawaii State Ethics Commission (“Commission”) issued a Charge against Respondent Edward N. Chu (“Respondent Chu”), the Chief Financial Officer of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (“HHSC”) and Interim Chief Financial Officer of the HHSC Oahu Regional System (Charge No. COMPL-C-15-00650), for allegedly violating the State Ethics Code, Chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes (“HRS”).

The Charge alleged that Respondent Chu violated the conflicts of interests section of the State Ethics Code, HRS section 84-14(a), by taking official action with respect to a supplemental agreement between HHSC and a business (“Business X”) that employed Respondent Chu’s spouse. Under the terms of a 2013 master agreement, Business X provided certain professional services to HHSC. The supplemental agreement, which was approved and executed by Respondent Chu in September 2015, expanded Business X’s scope of services to provide for a certain project. Business X hired Respondent Chu’s spouse to provide clerical support services for that project.

The Commission and Respondent Chu agreed to resolve the Charge without any further administrative proceedings, by Respondent Chu’s payment of $1,000 to the State of Hawaii and the publication of this Resolution of Charge….

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Dec 7: State Ethics Commission resolves charge against Gordon Chong, State Engineer, Department of Agriculture

On September 15, 2016, the Hawaii State Ethics Commission (“Commission”) issued a Charge against Gordon Chong (“Respondent Chong”) for alleged violations of the State Ethics Code, Hawaii Revised Statutes (“HRS”) Chapter 84. At the time of the alleged actions that formed the basis of the Charge, Respondent Chong was employed by the Department of Agriculture (“DOA”) as an engineer with the Agriculture Resource Management Division (“ARMD”). The Charge alleged that Respondent Chong violated the fair treatment laws by assisting a state agricultural tenant on a DOA application for approval to construct a farm dwelling on state leased lands.

The Commission and Respondent Chong agreed to resolve the Charge with Respondent’s payment of an administrative penalty of $1,000 to the State of Hawaii and the publication of this Resolution of Charge….