Members of the Hawaii County Council agree, for the most part, that it is not the council’s responsibility to involve itself in the controversy surrounding Mayor Billy Kenoi’s use of his county-issued credit card for personal expenses.
Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung said the nine-member council has no role to play at this time, and that allowing both branches of county government to be absorbed in the debate does no good.
“Although people would like us to do it, I think it would be irresponsible,” he said of addressing the issue.
Instead, Chung said, the council should be focusing on important legislative matters.
Puna Councilman Greggor Ilagan, however, sees a problem. And depending on the results of the county legislative auditor’s internal audit of the county-issued pCards, expected to be released in June, he will consider introducing legislation.
“The (pCard) system, as the public has seen, it’s broken,” he said. “And it’s in need of changing or improving, otherwise something like this would not have happened.”
Chung said his personal feeling is that introducing a bill or resolution aimed at governing the use of pCards would be an “overreaction” to a situation that has not exposed the county to potential liability. Instead, he suggested the administration make all pCard expenditures available to the public.
Since taking office in 2008, Kenoi has made a habit of using his county-issued card for non-county expenses, including an $892 tab at a Honolulu hostess bar, a $1,200 surfboard, bicycle equipment and more. So far, Kenoi has paid back $31,112.59 of the $129,580.73 he charged during his tenure.
The state Attorney General’s Office has since launched an investigation into the matter, and ethics complaints have been filed against both the mayor and the county finance director.
Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter said she is not one to drum up unnecessary controversy and that the attorney general should be allowed to conduct its investigation. Kenoi, she said, deserves due process.
“We need to allow that process to take place,” she said. “It’s not, right now, in our jurisdiction.”
In an emailed response, Ka‘u/South Kona Councilwoman Maile David took a similar position, saying the attorney general and county ethics board are the proper authorities.
“I am also hopeful that the audit of all (pCard) use being conducted by the legislative auditor may bring forth recommendations that could streamline and/or limit use of (pCards) in the future,” she wrote. “I do look forward to this matter being thoroughly examined and addressed through these independent investigations.”
Puna Councilman Daniel Paleka said there is likely another side of the story — the expenses the mayor has incurred on his own dime and for which he has not sought reimbursement.
“There’s times when I’ve provided refreshments at meetings … I’m sure our mayor has done the same, and of course that’s not reported,” Paleka said.
In the end, Paleka said he supports Kenoi and wants to give him the benefit of the doubt instead of making assumptions prior to the conclusion of the investigations.
“He’s done a lot of good for our county. I’d like to focus on the positive,” he said. “We all make mistakes.”
Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille said while she is not planning to introduce legislation regarding pCard use just yet, she thinks the community deserves an explanation from Kenoi. She said she is reserving judgment on whether he should resign until after he comes before the council.
In an emailed statement, North Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff said Kenoi has stated his intention to fully cooperate with the pending investigations and she supports allowing for that process to unfold.
Chung said it’s important the public understand his opposition to getting involved doesn’t mean he’s trying to protect Kenoi. Rather, he said, it’s about focusing on more pressing county matters.
Council Chairman Dru Kanuha and Councilman Dennis Onishi did not return mutiple phone calls seeking comment.
Email Chris D’Angelo at cdangelo@hawaiitribune-herald.com or Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
