2 former airport
officials plead not guilty

Trial is set for Oct. 18 in a
federal case alleging kickbacks

Two former Honolulu Airport officials pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges they steered $2.5 million in small-purchase maintenance and repair contracts to friends in exchange for kickbacks.

Dennis Hirokawa, 62, and Richard Okada, 63, entered their pleas in U.S. District Court and were released after each posting a $50,000 signature bond.

The two were indicted July 28 along with contractor Michael Furukawa and construction executive Wesley Uemura for conspiracy and mail fraud in a scheme that allegedly began in July 1997 and continued to June 2001.

Furukawa and Uemura, who were named in a June 30 indictment, also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud charges in the superseding indictment. Trial was set for Oct. 18 before Chief Judge David Ezra.

Hirokawa was former superintendent of maintenance at Honolulu Airport. Okada was former head of the airport's Visitor Information Program.

Dana Ishibashi, Okada's attorney, said his client, a cousin of Furukawa's, had no authority in the issuance of contracts, was not part of the decision-making that led to the awarding of contracts and did not receive money from anyone.

"We don't think he is guilty of these charges and are at a loss as to why (the government is) depending on admitted thieves like the people alleging these matters," Ishibashi said.

At least six contractors have pleaded guilty to theft charges in state court stemming from the airport investigation, and several have agreed to cooperate with investigators.

Ishibashi said they believe that those who are cooperating are doing so to make themselves look better.

The indictment alleges Okada instructed contractors who received airport contracts to pay Hirokawa $500 for each contract awarded. They payments eventually rose to monthly payments of $2,000 to Okada, who was expected to turn them over to Hirokawa. Okada allegedly also instructed that contractors make two payments of about $20,000 that were to be used for political contributions.

"That's a lot of money, and my client did not receive that kind of money from anybody," Ishibashi said.

Hirokawa's attorney, Keith Shigetomi, said his client's entire professional career has been devoted to government service. "He did his job and committed no crime," Shigetomi said.

Hirokawa vehemently denies receiving any kickbacks, steering contracts to friends or participating in any attempt to cover any of this up, Shigetomi said.