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City to call final
witness tomorrow in
Ewa Villages trial

Star-Bulletin staff

Bob McLean's Independent Sandblasting Co. still sits on Renton Road in Ewa Villages even though some $288,000 in city money was paid to several bogus companies to have it moved.

That's what came out yesterday during the continuing theft and bribery trial of fired city housing official Michael Kahapea, who is accused of masterminding a scheme that bilked the city of some $5.6 million from the Ewa Villages relocation fund.

Independent Sandblasting's work site -- at what was once the old Ewa Mill -- was among those visited by reporters right after the scandal broke and city officials released documents showing payments were requested for presumed moves.

Yesterday, McLean acknowledged that he gave signed, but otherwise blank, bid forms to Kahapea. The prosecution said those forms were later used as part of Kahapea's scheme.

McLean also said he was paid by the city to move dirt from one site to another in Ewa Villages at Kahapea's request.

The prosecution is expected to call Capt. Daniel Hanagami, the Honolulu Police Department's lead investigator in the white-collar case, as its last witness tomorrow.

Donald Wilkerson, Kahapea's attorney, is expected to begin his defense late next week.