Poor heart may
spare Kihano

The ex-lawmaker could face
five years in prison for
campaign fund abuse

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

A heart specialist has given former state House Speaker Daniel Kihano a 50-50 chance of living beyond six months.

U.S. District Chief Judge Alan Kay says he wants to hear from the doctor before sentencing the former legislator.

Kihano, 64, was found guilty last October of illegally spending $27,000 in campaign funds for personal use.

Dr. Calvin Wong, chief of cardiology at St. Francis Medical Center, found in a mid-April exam that Kihano's health had seriously deteriorated, according to the presentencing report.

"This doesn't sound good," Kay said, rescheduling the sentencing for May 19 so that attorneys could read the report and Wong could testify on Kihano's health.

Defense attorney Ben Cassiday said Wong would be "very upset and reluctant to come" and that he might have to be subpoenaed.

Wong did not return calls yesterday.

Last month, Cassiday said Kihano faced a 30 percent chance of dying.

Kihano was convicted on 15 counts of money-laundering, obstruction of justice, and filing a false income tax return. He didn't comment yesterday. "I don't want to get excited," Kihano said.

Kihano faces five years in a federal prison if the judge follows sentencing guidelines. The U.S. government has asked that he get six to seven years, according to Cassiday, while the defense has requested 12 months of house arrest because of poor health.

Kihano has had two heart operations. He suffered a heart attack in late March and spent several days in the hospital, getting released April 1, Cassiday said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Seabright said the federal Bureau of Prisons believes it can provide adequate health care for Kihano.

Cassiday is worried Kihano won't survive the flight to the mainland.

"Did he do such a horrible thing to deserve to die in jail?" he asked. "What is to be served by putting this old, sick, poor guy in prison?"