The Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission on Wednesday fined state Rep. Karen Awana for the fourth time since 2011.

The four-term Oahu Democrat had just paid off the last $800 that she owed from previous fines, completely draining her campaign account this week and paying a portion out of pocket.

But now she owes $8,590 for new violations. The charges include filing false or inaccurate reports, untimely deposits of campaign contributions and failing to keep finance records.

The commissioners heard briefly from Awana at their meeting Wednesday afternoon before voting unanimously to fine her in accordance with their staff’s recommendation. Vice Speaker John Mizuno spoke on behalf of Awana.

Mizuno and Awana tried to assure the commission that Awana would be changing her ways.

“The big question I think the commissioners had was this: Were any funds used for personal purposes? And the answer is no,” Mizuno told Civil Beat.

Awana has closed her old campaign account and plans to open a new one soon that will be managed by different people so she will not be directly receiving or spending any campaign money.

She also plans to terminate her old campaign committee, Friends of Karen Awana, and create a new one called Ohana for Awana.

Her daughter, Irene Awana, is expected to serve as chair and Greg Gomes as treasurer. The rep had been her own campaign chair and treasurer prior to that, according to organizational charts filed with the commission.

The commission intends to work on an installment plan for Awana to pay off her new fines within a year.

The “positive note,” Mizuno said, is that the commission did not recommend criminal charges or forward the case to the prosecutor’s office.

“We feel satisfied,” he said. “We’re going to move forward.”

Keeping Control?

Awana was fined $1,900 in 2011, $6,800 in 2012 and $400 in 2013 before Wednesday. She stepped down from her House leadership position Friday. She had served as majority floor leader, a relatively weak post.

House Speaker Joe Souki accepted her resignation and said if she took care of her fines she could be named chair of the newly created Committee on Culture and the Arts and International Affairs.

Souki formed a coalition last year to oust longtime Speaker Calvin Say. Awana left Say’s faction to support Souki as speaker.

Some political insiders suspect Mizuno and Souki are trying to help Awana with her campaign finance troubles and offer her a new committee position to retain her support so they can keep control of the House.

Souki announced Tuesday that he had appointed Rep. Rida Cabanilla, another former Say supporter, to replace Awana as House majority leader.

But Mizuno said he doesn’t buy any of that. He said his decision to help Awana was personal. He said they were friends prior to being elected in 2008, and that it’s incumbent upon House members to help their colleagues.

“There’s not one thought in my mind about this being a numbers thing,” Mizuno said.

New Contenders

Awana may have difficulty keeping her District 43 seat next election. The district covers Ewa Villages, Ko Olina, Kalaeloa and Nanakuli.

Republican Andria Uale Tupola, an honors graduate of Kamehameha Schools, appears to be a strong contender in the race. Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission staff say she raised $8,000 at a Sept. 28 fundraiser.

And others may be entering the race soon. Democrat Stacelynn Eli filed paperwork with the commission Tuesday, staff said.

Hanalei Aipoalani, the Democrat Awana defeated in the 2012 primary by 10 points, hasn’t indicated whether he’ll run against her again next year. He had $1.46 in his campaign account as of July 18.

And there hasn’t been any word on whether Glenn Butler, the Republican Awana easily defeated in the 2012 general election, will give it another shot in November.

Awana raised just over $15,000 during the past two-year election cycle, which ended Nov. 6, and spent roughly $13,400.

Campaign spending staff say the average amount of money spent on successful bid for a House seat is $40,000.