Hawai'i's lawmakers disclose their finances
By Dennis Camire
Advertiser Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Hawai'i's two senators are the wealthiest among the state's four-member congressional delegation, but Rep. Neil Abercrombie took the most trips, according to annual personal disclosures released this week.
Democratic Sen. Dan Inouye and his wife, Margaret, showed a net worth of $1.13 million to $2.62 million.
Sen. Dan Akaka, also a Democrat, and his wife, Millie, reported a net worth of $306,000 to $842,000.
The financial reports for last year offer a broad look at lawmakers' finances. They include assets, income and debts in wide ranges and can exclude the value of a primary residence, furniture and other items.
The senators did not report any debts or trips paid for by others.
Abercrombie, a Democrat, listed a credit union account worth $15,000 to $50,000 as his only asset and had no debts, but he took paid trips to these destinations:
• Las Vegas, from the Nevada State AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education in June.
• Denver and Vail, Colo., from the American Sugar Alliance in August.
• Las Vegas again, from a plasterers' and cement masons' union in August.
• Fargo, N.D., from the American Crystal Sugar Co. in November.
Rep. Ed Case, a Democrat, and his wife, Audrey, reported a net worth of $217,000 to $530,000 with no debts.
Case accepted a paid trip to Amelia Island, Fla., in March from the Democratic Leadership Council.
Members of Congress are required to report trips paid for by others, any boards or foundations they may serve on and any gifts they have received.
In 2004, the senators and House members received yearly salaries of $158,100, which they are not required to report.
Details of the reports show:
• Inouye and his wife had stock in Central Pacific Bank in Honolulu valued at $600,000 to $1.25 million. Other assets included two bank accounts of $515,000 to $1.1 million; U.S. savings bonds valued at $15,000 to $50,000, and a vacant three-acre lot in Fern Forest on the Big Island, worth $1,000 to $15,000.
Inouye's income included $32,000 to $105,200 in interest and dividends and a $1,199 pension from the Hawai'i Employees Retirement System.
Inouye also received royalties for his 1967 book, "Journey to Washington." The unspecified royalties were donated to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team veterans club.
• Akaka and his wife had a rental condominium in Alexandria, Va., holdings in the Akaka Family Estate consisting of real estate and savings accounts, and a credit union account. Each was valued at $100,000 to $250,000. Other assets included credit union and bank accounts valued at $1,000 to $17,000 and investments totaling $5,000 to $75,000.
The senator's income included $5,000 to $15,000 in rent, $2,500 to $5,000 from his family estate and $3,199 from other investments. He also received a $13,672 pension from the state Department of Education.
• Abercrombie also received a $25,949 pension from the state of Hawai'i.
• Case's assets include a profit-sharing plan at his former law firm, Carlsmith Ball LLP, valued at $100,000 to $250,000 and a loan to the firm of $1,000 to $15,000. He and his wife also have credit union accounts totaling $51,000 to $150,000. His wife, who works for United Airlines, also has a 401(k) account worth $50,000 to $100,000 and an individual retirement account of $15,000 to $50,000.
They received about $1,200 to $3,700 from interest on various accounts.
