Airport kickback case
nets sixth arrest

The owner of DT Electric is
booked for hindering prosecution

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By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

State investigators made another arrest yesterday in connection with an alleged multimillion-dollar kickback scheme at Honolulu Airport involving small purchase maintenance contracts.

Investigators from the state Department of the Attorney General arrested David K. Tanaka, 57, president and owner of DT Electric, at his home office in Waipahu. He was taken to the Honolulu District Court cellblock, where he was booked for hindering prosecution and then released pending further investigation.

"It appears he's running a contracting business, but he doesn't have a license," said Donald Wong, chief investigator.

Calls to Tanaka's home yesterday went unanswered.

Hindering prosecution in the first degree is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Tanaka is the sixth person arrested and released in the case.

Honolulu Airport maintenance superintendent Dennis Hirokawa and airfield and grounds maintenance supervisor Antonio Bio were arrested on June 25. Investigators also seized computer files and records from their offices.

On July 3 investigators arrested airport visitor information program administrator Richard Okada; Richard Namba, president of R.I. Namba Construction; and his daughter Jodie Y. Namba, vice president of the company. Investigators also seized computer files and records from Namba's home office.

State Attorney General Earl Anzai said the investigation is focusing on small-project contracts under $25,000 awarded in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 for minor repairs like fixing cracked floors and holes in walls or replacing ceramic tiles.

He said the case could be the largest waste of taxpayer dollars ever, surpassing the $5.5 million lost in the city's Ewa Villages relocation scandal.

Investigators continue to ask for anyone with information on small maintenance contracts at the airport to call the attorney general's Investigation Division at 586-1240.