3 more firms fined in campaign donation probe
By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer
In an ever-widening investigation into illegal campaign contributions, three more Honolulu engineering companies have agreed to pay fines to the state Campaign Spending Commission for making improper donations to Hawai'i politicians.
Edward K. Noda and Associates agreed to pay $53,000 for funneling money through other people to the campaigns of former Gov. Ben Cayetano, Mayor Jeremy Harris and former Mayor Frank Fasi.
Fukunaga and Associates agreed to pay $24,000 for making illegal donations to Harris and Cayetano.
W.A. Hirai and Associates will pay $19,000 for donations to Harris, Cayetano, former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and former Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana.
Company representatives could not be reached or had no comment.
In the past year, the commission has fined dozens of companies, many of which specialize in work on government projects, for the same offense.
Commission director Robert Watada said the continuing investigation shows a clear pattern of companies funneling money through employees, relatives and friends to circumvent state campaign donation limits.
Several people connected to SSFM International have pleaded no contest to criminal charges, and many other firms are under investigation.
An individual or business may give no more than $4,000 to a mayoral candidate and $6,000 to a gubernatorial hopeful in the four years before an election.
Investigators have tried to determine whether any government contracts were awarded in exchange for illegal contributions, but no conclusive evidence has surfaced publicly.
Watada said he believes the links are there, but they are set up to make it difficult to prove wrongdoing.
Major city contractor R.M. Towill Corp. is trying to quash a prosecution subpoena seeking financial and contracting records. It says the subpoena is too broad and fails to disclose whether Towill has been targeted for prosecution.
The campaign commission's five voting members will meet Thursday to accept the fines.
In addition, real estate investment firm Gerell Management Inc. agreed to pay $1,500 for false-name and excess contributions to Harris. Attorney Mitchell Imanaka agreed to pay $500 for contributions to Harris.
