A Maui businessman has been charged with trafficking in ivory from endangered white sperm whales.

Howard Konrad is the first to be charged in Hawai'i as a result of a yearlong investigation by federal authorities. He owns and operates two Lahaina stores that sell ivory.

Konrad was charged Wednesday with receiving 31 pounds of ivory teeth and 57 individual ivory teeth in four separate transactions dating back to August 2003. The misdemeanor charges are punishable by up to a year in prison and $100,000 in fines.

According to a court affidavit, the investigation revealed that Konrad spent about $45,347 on sperm whale teeth bought from a Florida associate on at least six occasions.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has no records that Konrad has a permit, or has ever applied for one, to allow him to import sperm whale teeth.

The white sperm whale has been on the endangered species list for about 36 years. Importing wildlife specimens into the U.S. requires a foreign export permit from the country of origin and a separate permit from the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Konrad's attorney, Philip Lowenthal, said they have been working with the U.S. Attorney's Office to resolve the matter.

At least six suspects nationwide are being targeted by the investigation, which started in February 2005 after federal agencies learned of international trafficking in sperm whale teeth, tipped off by an unnamed informant who is now cooperating with authorities.

The informant claimed to have sold about half of the sperm whale teeth he smuggled into the country to a former director of the Whalers Village Museum in Lahaina.

That man, who now lives in Florida and Washington state, told officials that he sold most of the teeth to Konrad, who had also bought the museum from him, according to a court affidavit.

"Turns out he didn't have a permit," said Lowenthal of the Florida man who sold the museum to Konrad.

Konrad, who lives in Kahului, also owns Lahaina Scrimshaw.

Lowenthal described his client as a reputable businessman who has had an interest in the historical aspects of whaling for the past 30 years.

Konrad was arrested April 24 and released on bail. He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Honolulu for arraignment later this month.