House Ethics Committee Investigating Kai Kahele
Nominations Open for Associate Justice, Hawaii Supreme Court
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Ige Scores 'C' on Fiscal Policy Report Card
Prosecutors: Former labor leader, family members used union as ‘personal piggy bank’
HNN: … Federal prosecutors said that as IBEW Local 1260′s business manager, Brian Ahakuelo put five of his family members on the union’s payroll at six-figure salaries.
They also allege that he used $80,000 in union money to purchase first-class travel to Japan in 2015 for his relatives and friends.
“The Ahakuelos used Local 1260 as their personal piggy bank,” said Assistant U. S. Attorney William KeAupuni Akina.
The allegations of self dealing were highlighted in the opening day of the union corruption trial against Ahakuelo, his wife Marilyn Ahakuelo and his sister-in-law Jennifer Estencion, who were charged with 70 counts of fraud, embezzlement and conspiracy.
Federal authorities also allege that Ahakuelo, with the help of IBEW staffers like ex-sports broadcaster Russell Yamanoha, rigged a union vote in 2015 to raise membership dues.
“Union graft is nothing new. But the real victims here are the union workers who have their dues taken from them to be spent on luxurious homes in Kaua’i and first-class plane tickets and nepotism,” said former FBI Special Agent and private investigator Tom Simon.
Ahakuelo lawyers said that the IBEW’s international parent, and not the local union, rigged the votes and that the union leader and his relatives worked hard to earn the perks.
His attorney said the perks were also needed to impress people ….
CB: Ahakuelo Trial: Family Accused Of Using Honolulu Union Funds As A ‘Personal Piggybank’
Background:
read … Prosecutors: Former labor leader, family members used union as ‘personal piggy bank’
Lawyer For Mitsunaga Firm Pleads Not Guilty To Bribing Kaneshiro
CB: … A lawyer for an engineering firm whose CEO is accused of bribing Honolulu’s prosecuting attorney pleaded not guilty on Friday to participating in the alleged scheme….
According to the indictment, Tanaka met with Kaneshiro and a staff member in October 2012 to convince him to investigate and prosecute Mau. That same month, Tanaka donated $250 to Kaneshiro’s political campaign, state records show.
The parties met again in 2013, the indictment states. That same day, Mitsunaga and his wife each donated $4,000 to Kaneshiro’s campaign, and his associate Terri Otani gave $2,000, according to the indictment.
In 2014, Tanaka also spoke with Kaneshiro by phone several times, the indictment states, and allegedly gave him transcripts of Mau’s deposition in a civil case.
A trial is scheduled for March 21 in the courtroom of Chief District Judge J. Michael Seabright….
HNN: Attorney charged in Mitsunaga corruption probe makes special requests from court in first appearance
read … Lawyer For Mitsunaga Firm Pleads Not Guilty To Bribing Kaneshiro
Navy reports 3 water main breaks, affecting 93,000 in Pearl Harbor area
SA: … According to the Navy, the first main break Friday occurred at about 4:15 a.m. at the Waiau Hawaiian Electric power station off Kamehameha Highway. Then about 30 minutes later, a car crashed near a Naval Exchange around Pearl City.
“Apparently, that vehicle struck a riser and created a leak as well, and that leak has been secured and isolated,” Sohaney said.
He said the third leak, at the Navy’s West Loch Annex, was an anticipated effect of efforts to contain the first two leaks.
“What we did is we isolated both of those, and when you isolate the main break … (and) divert that water, now you’re bringing a lot of pressure back into the system. We expect other potential weak areas in the system to potentially have a leak,” he explained. “And that’s what we have: We have a smaller line leak that is not a major concern.” ….
read … Navy reports 3 water main breaks, affecting 93,000 in Pearl Harbor area
Drone Incidents near Pearl Harbor
TD: … A Chinese national was questioned by NCIS agents after being caught flying a small drone near the Rainbow Bay Marina, which is near Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, on July 19, 2019.
"The drone operator ... stated that he had just finished visit[ing] the [USS] Arizona Memorial and decided to test out his new drone ... [by taking] a view of the sailboats in Rainbow Bay Marina," the report read, adding that "NCIS arrived on scene, conducted system background verifications and found no indications of suspicious activity. The drone operator willingly allowed NCIS agents to inspect and examine his possessions."
There were at least three additional occurrences of incidents at Pearl Harbor in which the FBI was involved in the investigation or was notified. In one of those instances, the FBI and NCIS interviewed someone and confiscated a drone that the person threw into a perimeter fence.
read … Swarmed Navy Destroyer Had Its Bridge Illuminated By Mysterious Drones
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