The Lingle administration has announced the cancellation of two "inappropriate" Honolulu Airport security consultant contracts that were renewed just two weeks before former Gov. Ben Cayetano left office. Lingle cuts 2
Cayetano contractsAssociated Press
Transportation Director Rod Haraga noted yesterday that the contracts with Ernest Moritomo and Rudy Alivado were renewed by Cayetano two months before they were scheduled to expire.
"After reviewing the contracts, the administration felt that there were a number of irregularities, including how the contracts were awarded as well as the terms," said Haraga.
He said the Attorney General's Office recommended that the contracts be terminated effective Jan. 16, the day they were to be extended for one more year.
Alivado, a retired Honolulu police major and former deputy director of the state Department of Public Safety, was to serve as executive assistant for security at a salary of $82,500 plus $25,000 for overtime and $12,000 for travel and incidental expenses.
Moritomo, a former police officer, was to serve as special assistant for security at a salary of $70,000 plus $25,000 for overtime and $12,000 for travel and incidental expenses, the Governor's Office said.
"The renewal of these contracts by the prior administration was inappropriate," said Haraga. "This administration will not tolerate this type of behavior and breach of public trust."
The contract for Alivado, a friend of the former governor, was awarded in 1997 and renewed every year since.
Gov. Linda Lingle, in reporting last month that the contract renewals were under review, said she had information that made her think the arrangements were "intolerable."
She said her administration will look for other instances where this is occurring.
Cayetano defended the contract renewal and praised the abilities of Alivado and Moritomo.
He credited them with uncovering alleged fraud at the airport between airport employees and private contractors and said their work also led to the end of overtime fraud and abuse by Honolulu police officers working at the airport.