Former worker
alleges UH bias

She charges that her
questions about Dobelle's
spending led to a demotion

A former University of Hawaii employee who raised questions about the $1 million renovation of College Hill and former UH President Evan Dobelle's spending has filed a complaint with the state Civil Rights Commission.

Claire Nakamura, the former fiscal officer for the UH system, alleged that university officials discriminated against her when they stripped her of her authority after she questioned expenditures for the president's residence and other costly UH ventures, people familiar with the complaint said.

Nakamura currently serves as a Gov. Linda Lingle appointee in the Department of Public Safety.

The complaint, which is not public, became a part of the UH regents' investigation that led to the June 15 firing of Dobelle, a decision that was later rescinded in a settlement deal that included Dobelle's resignation effective yesterday. The approximately $1.8 million settlement also absolves both sides of any wrongdoing.

Nakamura's case is pending and, if it is found to have merit, could result in a lawsuit against the university.

Firing Dobelle for cause requires that his actions constitute moral turpitude, bring public disrespect or ridicule upon the university or constitute grounds for civil liability of the university or a criminal conviction.

But Dobelle's attorney, Rick Fried, said Nakamura's complaint does not involve the former president.

"Dr. Dobelle knows nothing about it," Fried said.

As fiscal officer for the university system, Nakamura was responsible for making sure state money was spent properly. She had oversight over the College Hill project, Dobelle's state travel reimbursements and other spending in Bachman Hall.

One of the documents released by the regents Thursday shows Nakamura believed she was being retaliated against because she questioned spending from the president's office.

In an October 8, 2002, memo to former UH Chief Financial Officer J.R. "Wick" Sloane, Nakamura defended the way she performed her job.

"In the beginning, I made polite suggestions that certain transactions may be unethical. When you and 'they' failed to react appropriately, I used more forceful words that certain transactions are improper. Wick, if I was overzealous in protecting you and others -- including 'them' -- from going to jail, I truly apologize; however, I am unwilling to be an accomplice in any way."

The memo does not say who "they" or "them" are.

But in the memo Nakamura suggested that she was being blamed for leaking information about Dobelle's use of more than $1,600 of his UH protocol fund to buy tickets for staff and donors to a February 2002 Janet Jackson concert at Aloha Stadium.

"Although I am privy to far more serious transgressions (committed over my objections), and I could go public, that is not my style," Nakamura wrote.

Fried said Dobelle had nothing to hide about the concert tickets, that the donors enjoyed the concert and it was more economical than hosting a dinner.

Nakamura wrote that Sloane and several unnamed UH officials made "trumped up" charges against her, accused her of being mentally unstable and began a whisper campaign to discredit her.

Sloane did not return calls for comment.

Nakamura declined comment, citing the pending case. Her attorney also declined comment.

In the memo, Nakamura alleged that Sloane and others suggested that because she was an Asian female she was expected to be subservient.

"Remember that I am not paid to be congenial; rather, I am paid to protect your and 'their' butts, which I have done in a flexible but lawful manner," she wrote.

"You and 'they' have come close to transforming me into a 'fruitcake' by overloading me with work and setting me up for failure. You harass me to no end. You yell and direct me to do as you say," Nakamura wrote. "You have created a hostile work environment for me. You are intent on firing me, irrespective of the facts, without just and proper cause."