Public safety nominee State Public Safety director-nominee Stephen Watarai could face some tough questions in state Senate confirmation hearings because of ongoing city investigations into his conduct as assistant chief at the Honolulu Police Department.
subject of probe
There are questions about his role
in organizing a tourneyBy Pat Omandam and Nelson Daranciang
pomandam@starbulletin.com | ndaranciang@starbulletin.comBut Police Chief Lee Donohue said yesterday he does not see any problems with Watarai's confirmation and believes he will be a great public safety director for his ability to "think out of the box."
"I don't see anything on the horizon or that I know of in the past," Donohue said.
Gov. Linda Lingle appointed Watarai, 58, as public safety director yesterday out of more than 100 applicants.
"I am eager and excited to learn about the correctional system and hope to bring a fresh, new outlook to the incarceration issues," said Watarai, who applied for the post after supporting Lingle in the Nov. 5 elections.
Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, who led the public safety director search, said Watarai's experience at HPD, especially his work with the city-state-federal anti-crime "weed and seed" program, fits right in line with the Lingle administration's emphasis on a holistic approach toward inmates.
He said he thinks Watarai is "well aware of where this administration wants to go in relation to not only corrections, but law enforcement in general."
Nevertheless, Watarai, who oversees HPD's patrol operations from Foster Village to Hawaii Kai, may face questions about city investigations into his actions.
The 38-year HPD veteran is retiring from the department while an internal investigation into a golf tournament he organized is pending. The May 17 tournament at Hickam Air Force Base was part of this year's Police Week activities. The annual tournament is a benefit for the Honolulu Police Relief Association.
The department's Internal Affairs Division is looking into allegations that police officers were assigned to volunteer for the tournament, then told they would be paid for the following day but did not have to show up for work.
The City Ethics Commission also launched an investigation after receiving complaints, said Chuck Totto, commission executive director.
Watarai's retirement could render both investigations moot since neither HPD nor the commission would have jurisdiction to impose any penalties.
Meanwhile, Lingle named Sandra Lee Kunimoto, 48, as chairwoman of the state Board of Agriculture.
Kunimoto, who has broad experience in agriculture, is a former marketing director of the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center and past general manager of the Maui Farmers' Cooperative Exchange.
She is acting director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, where she heads its business development and marketing division.
Kunimoto said she will strive to balance the department's regulatory duties with building partnerships to expand the state's agriculture markets.
"I think the major change you're going to see in the Department of Agriculture is moving away from its previous emphasis on enforcement and regulation, and a much stronger emphasis on the economic development aspects of ag -- its ability to create higher paying jobs in our state," Lingle said.
State Sen. Lorraine Inouye, chairwoman of the Senate Water, Land and Agriculture Committee, said she is excited about Kunimoto's appointment and supports the effort to expand agriculture marketing.
"With the decline in the major industries like sugar and pineapple, this is where the industry -- those that are surviving -- needs the help," Inouye said.
Inouye, a former Big Island mayor, added she does not see any problems with Kunimoto's confirmation. Kunimoto is expected to take over the Agriculture Department once Lingle appoints someone to head DBEDT.
Lingle said she has six more appointments to make before her Cabinet is complete.
State of Hawaii
