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Kahapea
sentenced to
50 years

The former housing official,
57, headed the city government's
biggest scam ever

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By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

Michael Kahapea "robbed the people of Ewa of the opportunity to revitalize their neighborhood."

With that, Circuit Judge Reynaldo Graulty sentenced Kahapea yesterday to 50 years in prison for his role in the Ewa Villages scandal.

The Hawaii Paroling Authority will set the minimum amount of time he will spend incarcerated. Kahapea, 57, is also expected to pay $365,000 in fines. Restitution will be determined by Graulty in December.

A jury, following an eight-week trial, found Kahapea guilty Aug. 2 of stealing $5.8 million from the Ewa Villages relocation fund. The theft, which involved payments made to bogus moving companies owned by friends and family for relocation work never done, is the biggest scam in the history of the city government.

In meting out his sentence, Graulty said Kahapea was responsible for the theft "by means of a fraudulent and deceitful bid-rigging scheme."

As a result, Graulty said, Kahapea was able to lead the high life for more than three years, gambling away millions in Las Vegas and frequenting hostess bars locally.

Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee had sought 100 years' imprisonment but said after sentencing that he was pleased with Graulty's decision.

"He was a public employee; he worked for the public," Lee said. The crimes committed were "totally unconscionable. The amount was unconscionable, and even the way he committed the crimes was unconscionable. He had no regard for right or wrong."

Donald Wilkerson, Kahapea's attorney, said his client had no previous convictions and raised five sons, two stepsons and a stepdaughter before addictions to alcohol and gambling took him down the wrong path.

Kahapea received about 25 letters of support from family and friends, among them Kamehameha Schools President Michael Chun, a childhood classmate. "What do you do with a good man who has done something wrong?" Chun asked.

Wilkerson said his arguments at yesterday's sentencing hearing "fell on deaf ears" because Graulty's comments "appeared to be scripted."

He said a sentence of 10 years, with the possibility of parole, would have been more fair. He argued that a 100-year sentence essentially amounts to a life sentence for Kahapea and that putting him in jail for the rest of his life would only ensure that he would be unable to repay money that was taken.

Kahapea must still stand trial on charges involving smaller schemes tied to the sites of the West Loch project in Ewa and the bus depot on Middle Street.

He also has been indicted on theft and racketeering charges for allegedly stealing some $200,000 worth of quarters from coin-operated laundry machines at two city apartment buildings.

Federal officials are also investigating Kahapea.