State hires Goodenow
for Bishop probe

Investigative firm joins the inquiry

By Rick Daysog
Star-Bulletin

The state attorney general's office has hired one of the state's largest private investigative firms to assist in its inquiry of Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate.

The state has signed Goodenow Associates Inc. to a six-month contract capped at $300,000.

The company, which will bill the state at a rate of $95 an hour, was hired largely for its financial background, said Cynthia Quinn, special assistant to Attorney General Margery Bronster.

Bronster is investigating allegations of trustees' mismanagement of the estate.

William McCorriston, Bishop Estate's attorney, criticized the contract, saying the state investigation is going to cost taxpayers as much as $1 million. He believes that money could be better spent on other state programs such as public education.

"The crusade against the trustees apparently is an attractive campaign issue to the administration which detracts from the real economic problems of this state," McCorriston said.

Quinn noted that the attorney general's office has worked with Goodenow in the past, including its investigation of former Kauai County Treasurer Henry Furutani. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1994 after he pleaded guilty to stealing some $1.3 million from the county general fund to support gambling losses.

Goodenow has about 30 employees. Terry Pennington, president, said his firm has conducted work for Bishop Estate in the past.

He said Goodenow earlier this year acquired Corniel & Associates, a local company that has conducted employee background checks for new hires at the estate.

---

Bishop Estate Archive