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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, June 6, 2008

Payback could be hefty if wrongdoing is found

 •  Lawmakers want to see UH travel list
 •  Sugar Bowl travel list still incomplete

By Rick Daysog
Advertiser Staff

The state Ethics Commission's review of the University of Hawai'i's Sugar Bowl travel expenses focuses on one key issue: Did state employees use their positions to get unwarranted perks or special treatment?

Under Hawai'i ethics laws, the university has to demonstrate that there was a legitimate state purpose when paying for the travel of employees and their family members to attend the Jan. 1 bowl game in New Orleans, said Dan Mollway, the commission's executive director.

If any of the travel expenses do not fit that bill, the staffer or the UH manager who approved the travel could be forced to pay back the university for the travel costs.

In the worst case, a staffer could wind up paying a $500 fine for each violation, in addition to restitution, said Mollway. Those fines and restitution could add up to tens of thousands of dollars if there are multiple violations.

Mollway said his office made a formal request to the university for its Sugar Bowl travel records last week but has yet to receive any information.

If the university does not comply or contests the matter, the commission could subpoena the records.

And if wrongdoing is found, the commission could file formal charges and could hold administrative hearings on the matter.

UH spokesman Gregg Takayama said the the school plans to cooperate with the commission and will turn over a full list of those who attended the Sugar Bowl at the university's expense.

UH officials publicly released an edited list of its official Sugar Bowl travel party on May 23.

More than 550 names were on the list but those of 45 people were blacked out.

At least six other names were excluded because UH said they had paid their own way to the Jan. 1 game against Georgia.

Mollway recalled that the commission investigated the ticket policies of the UH Athletic Department back in the early 1990s. He said the commission received complaints that the school was giving free tickets for UH football games and other sporting events to elected officials.

But before any formal charges were filed by the commission, then-Athletic Director Hugh Yoshida stopped the practices, Mollway said.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.