Posted on: Friday, April 18, 2003

8 firms fined for improper donations

Advertiser Staff

The state Campaign Spending Commission yesterday fined eight companies a total of $62,050 for making improper campaign contributions to Hawai'i politicians.

Fukunaga and Associates was fined $24,000 for making illegal donations to Mayor Jeremy Harris and former Gov. Ben Cayetano.

W.A. Hirai and Associates will pay $19,000 for donations wrongly made to Harris, Cayetano, former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and former Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana.

Fujita and Associates was fined $11,000 for improper contributions to Cayetano, Harris, Apana and Hirono.

WMO Corp. will pay $5,000 for problem donations to Cayetano and Hirono.

Former Gerell Management Inc. partner Joe Leoni will pay $750 for donations wrongly made to Harris. AM Partners Inc. was fined $1,200 for improper donations to Harris.

Stanford Carr Development will pay $600 for an excess contribution to Rep. Jerry Chang, D-2nd (S. Hilo).

Attorney Mitchell Imanaka will pay a $500 fine for contributions to Harris.