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Gambling execs
to testify in ex-city
official’s trial

Michael Kahapea allegedly ran
the Ewa Villages fraud that bilked
the city of hundreds of thousands

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

Five people who are familiar with Michael Kahapea's gambling at Las Vegas casinos or who have done business with him have been called to testify at his trial.

Kahapea, former city property management branch chief, is set to go on trial May 1 in the Ewa Villages relocation fraud -- one of the biggest public corruption cases in the state.

Moving companies allegedly set up by Kahapea's relatives or friends billed the city hundreds of thousands of dollars for work that was never done or done at inflated costs. Kahapea was in charge of the relocation of businesses at Ewa Villages from 1993 to 1997. The city paid about $6 million to move tenants from the area.

According to documents filed in Circuit Court yesterday, the five people called to testify by Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee are:

Mark Whitmore, vice president of casino, cage, credit and collections at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.

Robert E. Oriskovich, an officer with Highstep Mining who was involved in other business ventures with Kahapea. Other officers of Highstep included Kahapea and David Brian Kaahaaina of American Hauling, also indicted.

Randy Miller, credit manager/casino host at the Stardust Hotel and Casino.

Daniel R. Piper, of the collections department with the Rio Hotel and Casino.

Francis Rivera, an executive casino host at Harrah Hotel and Casino and formerly with the Stardust Hotel and Casino.

Whitmore, Miller, Piper, Oriskovich and Rivera could not be reached for comment.

Also indicted in the scheme were Claude Hebaru of Titan Moving and Hauling; Donna Hashimoto-Abelaye of Specialty Pacific Builders; Kaahaaina, and Steven Swift. All face charges of theft, forgery, unlawful ownership or operation of a business, money laundering and failure to report income.

According to court documents, Kahapea allegedly accumulated substantial charges at the MGM, Stardust and Rio Casinos between 1995 and 1997.

The city paid Titan Moving, RJ Hauling, A-1 Hawaii Trucking, American Hauling and Specialty Pacific Builders for the relocation work they performed based on Kahapea's representations.

Bank records for the companies show that substantial amounts were withdrawn in cash from their accounts and made payable to these casinos between 1995 and 1997, court documents indicate.

Oriskovich received about $20,000 from Kahapea. He has said the payment was for his involvement in Highstep Mining and other business ventures with Kahapea, court documents say.

Kahapea's attorney, Donald Wilkerson, could not be reached to comment on the allegations contained in the court documents. In the past, Wilkerson has said Kahapea didn't take the money he is accused of taking.

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http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us