2 engineering firms fined for campaign donations

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two more engineering companies have agreed to pay fines to the state Campaign Spending Commission for allegedly making illegal donations to Hawai'i politicians, the latest in a long series of such penalties.

Engineers Surveyors Hawai'i Inc. and people tied to the Honolulu firm donated $250,000 to 9 candidates, and much of the money was illegally supplied by the company, commission director Robert Watada said.

The company will pay a $78,500 fine for the donations, most of which went to former gubernatorial candidate D.G. "Andy" Anderson, former Gov. Ben Cayetano, Mayor Jeremy Harris, former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, and mayoral candidate Mufi Hannemann.

Smaller sums were donated to former Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana, former Mayor Frank Fasi, Hawai'i County Councilman Fred Holshuh and Gov. Linda Lingle, according to a written conciliation agreement.

Company president Kendall Hee would not comment. He pleaded no contest in December to a misdemeanor charge of making illegal contributions to Harris and was fined $3,000.

A second company, Hilo Engineering Inc., will pay $12,000 for improperly donating up to $22,000 to former Big Island Mayor Steve Yamashiro. Company president Rodney Kawamura would not comment.

The commission has issued dozens of fines totaling nearly $1 million during the past two years.

Reach Johnny Brannon at 525-8070 or jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com.