But whether Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro or his successor chooses to enforce the law is another matter.
Mayoral candidate Arnold Morgado is accusing Lendio, an appointee of Mayor Jeremy Harris, of flip-flopping for political expediency.
The law, which takes effect during this year's elections for mayor and prosecutor, attempts to curb the influence of large campaign contributors and is expected to limit the money flowing into campaigns.
Critics have argued the law bars people from legitimate participation in campaigns.
The ordinance prohibits candidates from soliciting or receiving campaign money or assistance from "a lobbyist within two years after the lobbyist receives a discretionary approval, whether legislative, administrative or quasi-judicial, from the city."
Earlier this year, Lendio said the law was vague and might not withstand a legal challenge. The city's top legal counsel said, however, that her new interpretation narrows the scope of the ordinance and makes it stronger from a constitutional standpoint.
She said her office has been flooded with calls and she wanted those not affected to be allowed to exercise their constitutional rights.
The law was not intended to affect people obtaining drivers licenses or nonmanagement employees of companies that received discretionary approvals, she said.
Lendio yesterday sent to the city clerk's office a list of 25 types of land-use approvals she believes come under the ordinance and the names of hundreds of companies and individuals that have received land-use approvals or nonbid contracts since Jan. 1, 1995, when the law took effect. The law applies only to city elections.
Kaneshiro has thus far refused to prosecute the law, saying he believes it is unconstitutional. He could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Kaneshiro has refused to investigate a January 1996 complaint by the Hawaii Carpenters' Union alleging it was illegal for contractor Dennis Mitsunaga to write letters on behalf of Morgado.
Morgado, at the time of the complaint, said his campaign believed Mitsunaga's contracts were initiated before 1995. He accused the union of conducting a smear campaign on behalf of Harris.
Mitsunaga, who has received more than $11.7 million in city contracts over the past decade, appears on Lendio's list.
Morgado said today that Lendio's interpretation "must represent at least the fifth . . . opinion either made by or approved by the corporation counsel's office" regarding the law. He accused her of "salvaging" a bad law.
Harris could not be reached for comment yesterday.