The state Campaign Spending Commission has closed its books on its 2 1/2-year investigation into the Kamehameha Schools' political activities. Alleged political activities
net $10,000 fine for trustThe state Campaign Spending Commission
also fines 7 local firmsBy Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.comBy a 3-0 vote yesterday, the commission's board approved a $10,000 fine against the $6 billion trust, which was under investigation for allegedly secretly conducting polls for friendly lawmakers and for funneling tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to state legislators.
"This hopefully is the last chapter in the Kamehameha Schools saga," said Bob Watada, the commission's executive director.
Watada said the deal avoids a costly and time-consuming legal battle. He also noted that the trust, which did not admit wrongdoing, has implemented policies that bar staffers and its trustees from getting involved in political activities.
The settlement was one of several considered by the commission's board yesterday. By a 3-0 vote, the commission approved fines totaling $65,000 to seven local firms, including:
>> Controlpoint Surveying Inc., which agreed to pay a $48,000 fine for making contributions under false names to the campaigns of Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, former Gov. Ben Cayetano, ex-Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana and former Honolulu City Councilman Mufi Hannemann. The fine is the commission's second largest, next only to a $64,000 fine assessed last year against the engineering firm Geolabs Inc.Under state law, an individual or corporation can give no more than $4,000 for a mayoral race and $6,000 for a gubernatorial race during a four-year election cycle.>> Fewell Geotechnical Engineering Ltd., which will pay $10,500 to settle charges that it made excessive and false name political contributions to Harris and Cayetano.
>> Architecture firm CDS International, which will pay a $4,500 fine for making excess political contributions to Harris, Cayetano, Apana and former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono.
>> T. Iida Contracting Inc., which will pay a $1,000 fine for giving over-the-limit donations to Harris.
>> Imata & Associates Inc., ECM Inc. and drafting supplies retailer Hubs Hawaii Inc., which have each agreed to pay $500 fines for giving too much money to the campaigns of Cayetano, Harris and Hirono.
In a related matter, the commission voted unanimously to dismiss complaints filed by Michael Golojuch, a former candidate for state House, against City Councilman Mike Gabbard and his daughter state Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo.
Golojuch questioned campaign expenditures Gabbard and Tamayo made to a company owned by Gabbard. But the commission found that the costs were properly reported in the lawmakers' campaign disclosure forms.