EDITORIAL
Campaign probe should go forward

Whatever it took to make it happen, it's welcome news that the Honolulu Police Department will continue to allow white-collar crime specialist Maj. Daniel Hanagami to maintain his focus on campaign spending violations.

For the past two years or so, Hanagami has been working closely with the Honolulu prosecutor's office on a steadily widening series of campaign spending cases.

Most of the cases involve illegal or excess contributions from local businesses that do work — often non-bid work — for the state and counties.

After Boisse Correa was named Honolulu's new police chief, there were reports that he might want to bring Hanagami back to his previous assignment as head of the department's Information Technology Division.

But now, Correa and Prosecutor Peter Carlisle announced that the major would continue to work full-time on the campaign spending probe.

This is critical. Over the past several years Hanagami has developed a depth of knowledge of campaign spending practices and potential violations.

The head of steam he and the prosecutor's office have developed is well worth preserving.

The prosecutions thus far have accomplished two important purposes: They have publicly cited individuals who cynically ignored campaign spending laws, and they have set a new standard that should significantly decrease such violations in the future.