Excess political The state Campaign Spending Commission is fining two local businesses a total of $4,000 for giving excessive political contributions to the campaigns of Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris and former City Councilman Mufi Hannemann.
donations net fines
for 2 local firms
By Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.comRestaurant operator Alan Ho, a Honolulu Police Commission member, has agreed to pay a $1,500 fine for over-the-limit donations to Hannemann's 2000 mayoral campaign.
Walters Kimura Motoda Inc., a local landscape architecture firm, agreed to pay a $2,500 fine for excessive contributions to the Harris campaign.
The fines require final approval by the commission's five-member board, which meets Monday.
Bob Watada, the commission's executive director, said Ho gave $5,000 in excessive contributions, while Walters Kimura's President Mike Motoda made $1,125 in excessive contributions to Harris' 2000 re-election campaign.
According to Watada, Ho's donations were made in the name of his three Waikiki companies: Antonio's Steak Ribs & Pasta, Lobster & Crab House and Royal Steak & Seafood House. Ho has previously said he mistakenly assumed that each of his companies could make $4,000 in donations to a candidate.
Last year, the commission fined Ho and his companies $5,500 for making excessive contributions to the Harris campaign.
Motoda could not be reached for comment.
Under state law, a donor is limited to giving $4,000 to a mayoral candidate during a four-year election cycle.
