Hawaii DOT Employees Fined For Taking State Equipment Off The Job

The incident violated Hawaii's Fair Treatment law.
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The Hawaii State Ethics Commission has fined a state employee who used a government-owned skid-steer at his personal residence as well as the employee’s manager who allowed him to do so.

Randy Keopuhiwa, a carpenter with the state Department of Transportation Highways Division, and Robert Chang, a DOT supervisor, admitted to violating Hawaii’s Fair Treatment law, which bars state employees from using their positions for personal privileges.

Chang allowed Keopuhiwa to use a DOT trailer to take a Bobcat skid loader to his residence and remove debris, according to a summary published by the commission. The incident happened around Nov. 2 while the highways division worked on a project near Nanakuli.

Keopuhiwa was fined $1,500, while Chang was fined $1,000. Both could face additional disciplinary action from the DOT.

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