by Andrew Walden

Politically connected Princeville and Ko Olina Developer Jeff Stone is trying to open a new line of business--marijuana. 

A search of the always-interesting DCCA BREG site for business names including 'Cannabis' or 'Marijuana' reveals 28 active listings, many registered in the last few months.  Most listings directly identify a specific human being as owner, but two stood out.

Hanalei Cannabis and Halelea Cannabis were both registered in June, 2015 as owned by "PVI Holdings LLC."

"PVI Holdings LLC" is registered as owned by "Princeville Associates, LLC."

"Princeville Associates, LLC" is registered as owned by "Hawaii Land Development Corporation."

And "Hawaii Land Development Corporation" is controlled by some actual humans.  According to BREG, they are:

• STONE, JEFFREY R -- P/D
• KIM, KENDALL C -- V/S/T
• HARRIS, RALPH -- V
• STONE, RICHARD -- D
• WONG, MARI STONE -- D 

Akamai readers will of course immediately flash back to the 1999 image of Mari Stone-Wong, and her then-husband Bishop Estate Chairman Richard 'Dickie' Wong, in the courtroom of Judge Michael Town.

According to the Star-Bulletin April 19, 1999: "Wong's wife, Mari Stone Wong, and his brother-in-law Jeffrey Stone pleaded not guilty to all charges relating to the estate's sale of its fee interest to the 219-unit Kalele Kai condominium project....  'Even Al Capone and his people, they never indicted his wife,' Wong said."

Civil Beat publisher Pierre Omidyar is now developing a Princeville golf resort with Stone.

Stone's partner in Ko Olina, Disney, likes to maintain a squeaky-clean corporate image.

Jeff Stone also owns and operates Colleen Hanabusa.  The Honolulu Advertiser, March 4, 2004 explains their relationship at the time:

"State Sen. Colleen Hanabusa ... lives in a luxury Ko Olina townhouse purchased by her fiancé from Stone, and works in a downtown law office subleased from Stone, according to real estate and business records...."

Here is a relevant excerpt from page 432-433, "Ben: A memoir from street kid to Governor."  Gov Cayetano explains why Hanabusa worked to oust his Attorney General in the midst of Bronster's investigation of the Broken Trust scandal:

...Hanabusa had other reasons to oppose (Attorney General Margery) Bronster's confirmation.  (KSBE Trustee) Henry Peters and his influential mother, Hoaliku Drake, who had organized public demonstrations in opposition to Bronster's confirmation, were both supporters who lived in her district.  Politically, that alone would have been reason enough for her to vote against (Bronster).  but, as the Honolulu Advertiser would later disclose, Hanabusa had a close relationship with developer Jeff Stone, whose sister was married to Bishop Estate trustee Dickie Wong and who, along with Peters and Wong had been indicted by a grand jury convened by Bronster.  As the attorney general's investigation would later reveal, prior to the confirmation hearing, Hanabusa had met privately with Larry Mehau and Wong.  When confronted by a reporter, Hanabusa confirmed that the meeting had taken place, but, in a remarkable lapse of memory, she could not remember if Bronster's confirmation had been discussed." 

Hanabusa's then fiancé, now husband, is former Hawaii State Sheriff John Souza is known for his land dealings with methamphetamines dealer Jonnaven Monalim, the cousin of Pali Golf course shooter Rodney Joseph Jr.  But one shouldn't forget Souza's Pueo Trucking company was operated by convicted felon George "Buddy" DeRamos Jr.  Souza eventually sold it to acquitted Aloha Stadium toilet bomber George Grace III in a deal which went bad and landed in civil court.

Legalization is supposed to take marijuana out of the hands of organized crime.

---30---

UPDATE: Stone's Company has also registered the tradenames "Hanalei Weed" and "Halelea Weed"

BONUS: OHA Trustee to Use Trust Funds to Sell Marijuana?

Cayetano: Hanabusa's Broken Trust connections lead to Ko Olina

Hanabusa, Souza tied to Pali Golf course shooters’ mob

Fireworks, dirt, and stolen trucks: Colleen Hanabusa and the Honolulu Raceway Deal

Pierre Omidyar: The Secret Empire of a Resort Developer