Food Pantry attorney Howard Luke characterized the employees as prosecution witnesses and said investigators had made it clear they were not suspected of wrongdoing.

"Food Pantry is not a suspect, not a target and neither are the employees," he said.

Luke would not say whether the company or its employees had made campaign contributions to Harris.

Also appearing to testify was state Campaign Spending Commission director Robert Watada, who said he expected to be questioned about campaign finance regulations.

It was the third time in nine months that witnesses have been subpoenaed to testify about the mayor's campaign workings or the awarding of city design and construction contracts.

Food Pantry is not a city contractor, an indication that the lengthy investigation's focus has shifted. The company has interacted with city officials in terms of permit applications, but prosecutors would not say whether such activities factor into the probe.

Food Pantry and the larger Foodland supermarket chain include some common owners, but the two are separate entities and Foodland is not involved in the case, Luke said.

Last November, the head of a major Honolulu engineering firm struck an agreement with prosecutors just hours before they were to seek his indictment for illegal donations to Harris.

SSFM International president Michael Matsumoto, represented by Luke, later pleaded no contest to felony money laundering and misdemeanor campaign finance charges.

And last August, an investigative grand jury heard testimony from top city contracting and construction officials, and from people involved in Harris' campaign. No city officials were seen entering the grand jury chamber early today.

Investigators have questioned for more than 16 months whether any city contracts were illegally awarded in exchange for campaign cash.

No one has been charged with such activities, and Harris insists that city contracting is free of corruption.

The probe began in January 2002, after the state Campaign Spending Commission found what investigators suspected was evidence that Harris' campaign committee intentionally hid the source of some money.