Hawaiʻi Corruption Investigations

When You’re Cracking Down On Corruption, Don’t Forget Lobbyists Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2018

When You’re Cracking Down On Corruption, Don’t Forget Lobbyists

There are many things the Legislature can do to bring far greater transparency and accountability to a sometimes shady political industry.

Roy Amemiya Was A ‘Soft-Spoken’ Banker Known For His Integrity. Then He Was Indicted Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2015

Roy Amemiya Was A ‘Soft-Spoken’ Banker Known For His Integrity. Then He Was Indicted

Amemiya’s attorney says his client played no role in arranging the retirement deal with disgraced ex-police chief Louis Kealoha. Federal prosecutors say otherwise.

‘Shock And Anger’ Over Legislative Bribery Cases Could Lead To Limits On Campaign Fundraising Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2016

‘Shock And Anger’ Over Legislative Bribery Cases Could Lead To Limits On Campaign Fundraising

Updated: The Legislature is considering a bill to ban legislators from holding fundraisers during session.

Danny De Gracia: Want To Stop Corruption In Hawaii? Be A Better Voter PF Bentley/Civil Beat/2014

Danny De Gracia: Want To Stop Corruption In Hawaii? Be A Better Voter

The bottlenecks for power in Hawaii are obvious and the rewards for kowtowing are consistent.

Neal Milner: Bribery Is Shameful But Legal Influence Peddling Is A Bigger Problem Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Neal Milner: Bribery Is Shameful But Legal Influence Peddling Is A Bigger Problem

What two former lawmakers did was so simplistic, obvious and tragically comical that it’s easy to miss the real point: Legal influence is another sign of American inequality.

Corruption At The Hawaii Legislature Puts Campaign Donations In The Spotlight Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

Corruption At The Hawaii Legislature Puts Campaign Donations In The Spotlight

Amid a new push for change, critics say the process surrounding legal campaign contributions urgently needs to be reformed.

Lee Cataluna: Hawaii Is Not Immune To Political Corruption, But It’s Still Shocking Kevin Dayton/Civil Beat/2022

Lee Cataluna: Hawaii Is Not Immune To Political Corruption, But It’s Still Shocking

As Scott Saiki put it, “We want to believe these kinds of things only happen on the mainland.”

Honolulu Businessman Milton Choy Had Been Working For Years With Feds On Legislative Bribery Case Screenshot: Hawaii Senate

Honolulu Businessman Milton Choy Had Been Working For Years With Feds On Legislative Bribery Case

The owner of a wastewater business has been a prolific campaign donor and received millions in sole-source government contracts over the years.

Upset About The Corruption Charges? What Are You Going To Do About It? Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

Upset About The Corruption Charges? What Are You Going To Do About It?

Democrats have such a complete lock on power in Hawaii — and Republicans are so marginalized —  that there may be little political fallout from even these egregious cases.

Two Hawaii Lawmakers Charged In Bribery Scheme Over Cesspool Legislation Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Two Hawaii Lawmakers Charged In Bribery Scheme Over Cesspool Legislation

J. Kalani English and Ty Cullen are accused of accepting thousands of dollars to alter the course of certain measures in 2020.