The state Ethics Commission yesterday concluded that allegations of ethical misconduct at Hawai'i's property records agency have not been substantiated.

"The allegations appear to be based more on suspicion and speculation rather than on specific, credible evidence," the commission said.

It had been alleged Bureau of Conveyances employees received very expensive gifts from title companies and others who file documents with the agency.

There were also allegations that certain title companies and individuals received preferential treatment from employees of the bureau.

"There appeared to be significant differences of opinion among employees of the bureau as to how the bureau's work should be performed and what the correct protocol should be when dealing with title companies and others who record documents at the bureau," the commission said.

"These differences of opinion constituted management issues for the bureau or for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to address," it said. "These issues were not matters that fell within the jurisdiction of the state Ethics Commission."

In January, an investigation by a committee of state lawmakers concluded the bureau suffered from "severe mismanagement" and constant office squabbles that cost taxpayers at least $226,000.

The committee's report exposed a perennially dysfunctional office environment in the bureau, but it didn't accuse government employees of breaking the law. It recommended someone be appointed to oversee the troubled agency.

But lawmakers backed off the idea of appointing a "special master" to institute changes in the bureau.

Instead, the bureau was given another chance to correct allegations of mismanagement, incompetence and fiscal unaccountability before lawmakers reconsider intervening with heavy-handed changes next year.