Campaign Cash Flowed To Hawaii Lawmakers As Hot Topics Debated

Lawmakers may not have settled the rail tax issue, but they did hold a lot of fundraisers during the session.

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May 3 was an important day for the Legislature, and a big news day in Hawaii.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and the other three county mayors urged Gov. David Ige to extend the legislative session so that lawmakers could reach agreement on legislation to pay for the Honolulu rail rroject.

Later that day, Ige said he would do no such thing until the state House and Senate come up with a rail tax plan that could pass.

By early evening, rumors were flying that Sen. Jill Tokuda, chairwoman of the Ways and Means Committee, and Speaker Joe Souki would lose their posts. In short time, the talk became fact.

What most people probably did not know was that 12 legislators, including Tokuda, were holding fundraisers that same evening. Honolulu may not have a way to pay to complete rail, but politicians still raise campaign cash even in the midst of political crisis.

A joint fundraiser flier that asked for donations of $100. 

Earlier this year Civil Beat wrote about all the legislators who raised money from the beginning of the session in mid-January through March 21. This article lists those who raised money from March 22 through May 3, the day before the session adjourned.

Raising money for political campaigns while deciding the fate of hundreds of bills is not illegal, even though legislators are showered with donations from special interests. But some seem to recognize that it raises ethical questions.

Once again, a few lawmakers introduced a bill this year to stop the practice. But Senate Bill 813, sponsored by Sens. Russell Ruderman, Les Ihara, Will Espero and Gil Riviere, was never heard.

Freshmen Reps. Nadine Nakamura, Chris Todd and Daniel Holt each planned, but later canceled, fundraisers April 12. Nakamura listed Sherry Menor-McNamara, head of Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, as the person in charge of the fundraiser.

But Nakamura, Todd and Holt ended up raising money together May 1 at HASR Bistro, along with two other freshmen representatives, Sean Quinlan and Cedric Gates. Each asked for $50.

Reps. Kaniela Ing and Justin Woodson held a fundraiser March 21 at Mandalay restaurant, with suggested donations ranging from $25 to $2,000. They were not included in the previous fundraiser story, as the notices were not posted online at the time the article was published.

State Legislators’ Campaign Fundraisers, March 22 – May 5

Name Fundraiser Location Date Amount
 Rep. Richard Onishi  Ground Zero  Mar. 22  $50 – $1,000
 Rep. Cedric Gates  Mandalay Restaurant  Mar. 22  $100
 Sen. J. Kalani English  Oahu Country Club  Mar. 22  $250
 Sen. Maile Shimabukuro  Mandalay Restaurant  Mar. 22  $100 – $1,000
 Rep. Sylvia Luke  Oahu Country Club  Mar. 23  $200
 Rep. Ty Cullen  Oahu Country Club  Mar. 23  $200
 Rep. Gregg Takayama  Mandalay Restaurant  Apr. 12  $50
 Rep. Linda Ichiyama  Mandalay Restaurant  Apr. 12  $50
 Rep. Mark Hashem  Mandalay Restaurant  Apr. 12  $50
 Sen. Glenn Wakai  WCIT Architecture  Apr. 12  $100
 Sen. Clarence Nishihara  WCIT Architecture  Apr. 12  $100
 Rep. Roy Takumi  Morton’s  April 17  $150
 Rep. Sylvia Luke  MW Restaurant  Apr. 18  $500
 Rep. Scott Saiki  MW Restaurant  Apr. 18  $500
 Rep. Lauren Matsumoto  Pacific Club  Apr. 18  $100 – $250
 Rep. Matt LoPresti  Mandalay Restaurant  Apr. 20  $50 – $1,000
 Rep. Joy San Buenaventura  Mandalay Restaurant  Apr. 20  $50 – $1,000
 Rep. Lynn DeCoite  Mandalay Restaurant  Apr. 20  $50 – $1,000
 Rep. Jarrett Keohokalole  Mandalay Restaurant  Apr. 20  50 – $1,000
 Rep. Joe Souki  Wolfgang’s Steakhouse  Apr. 25  $1,000
 Rep. Sean Quinlan  Mandalay Restaurant  Apr. 25  $100 – $1,000
 Rep. Nadine Nakamura  HASR Bistro  May 1  $50
 Rep. Chris Todd  HASR Bistro  May 1  $50
 Rep. Daniel Holt  HASR Bistro  May 1  $50
 Rep. Cedric Gates  HASR Bistro  May 1  $50
 Rep. Sean Quinlan  HASR Bistro  May 1  $50
 Sen. Jill Tokuda  Pacific Club  May 3  $150
 Sen. Roz Baker  Pacific Club  May 3  $150
 Rep. Calvin Say  Jade Dynasty  May 3  $100
 Rep. Sharon Har  Jade Dynasty  May 3  $100
 Rep. Jimmy Tokioka  Jade Dynasty  May 3  $100
 Rep. Ken Ito  Jade Dynasty  May 3  $100
 Rep. Sam Kong  Jade Dynasty  May 3  $100
 Rep. Cindy Evans  Hukilau Honolulu  May 3  $100
 Rep. John Mizuno  Hukilau Honolulu  May 3  $100
 Rep. Dee Morikawa  Hukilau Honolulu  May 3  $100
 Rep. Angus McKelvey  Hukilau Honolulu  May 3  $100
 Rep. Richard Creagan  Hukilau Honolulu  May 3  $50 – $1,000

Source: Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission

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