2 people fined for
excessive donations
The state Campaign Spending Commission has voted to fine a Waimanalo farmer and one of his employees $1,500 for making excessive political donations to Honolulu mayoral candidate Mufi Hannemann.
By a 5-0 vote Wednesday, the commission approved a $500 fine against Nalo Farms Inc. and President Dean Okimoto.
The commission also approved a $1,000 fine against Fay Galase, a secretary for Nalo Farms.
In a four-page conciliation agreement, the commission said Okimoto donated $400 over the limit to Hannemann's 2000 mayoral campaign and that Nalo Farms did not file disclosure reports with the commission as required by law.
The commission also alleged that Galase made $1,000 in excess contributions to the Hannemann campaign in September 2000.
Under state law, a donor can give no more than $4,000 to a mayoral candidate during a four-year election cycle.
Bob Watada, the commission's executive director, said Okimoto, Galase and their relatives contributed more than $26,000 to the Hannemann's 2000 campaign. But Watada said that the commission found no evidence that Nalo Farms or Okimoto reimbursed the donors.