In a post here yesterday, I wrote that while federal prosecutors have now described the financial house of cards that former prosecutor Katherine Kealoha and her husband, former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, allegedly risked everything to protect. Prosecutors attempt to lay out the “big picture” and provide context for the multiple charges came at the same time that a new indictment of Katherine Kealoha and her brother was made public.
But I described my continued feeling that there’s something missing from this picture.
For some time, I’ve been privately saying to friends that Katherine Kealoha’s increasingly risky behavior looks very similar to that of other attorneys who developed drug habits and eventually reached a point where their desperate search for money to purchase drugs sank their businesses and their professional careers.
In the absence of evidence of other explanations of the overall pattern of behavior of this former high-ranking prosecutor, I’ve privately put forward the drug hypothesis as the best way of understanding her actions over a period of years.
Of course, the difference is that most attorneys who get mired in drug problems have only their own practices to destroy. That was initially the case with Katherine Kealoha, who was in private practice when the financial pressures initially arose, at least in the timeline laid out by prosecutors. Later, however, when her husband became chief and she rejoined the prosecutor’s office, the couple’s positions of authority and power meant their attempts to resolve personal financial problems involved more serious abuses of power with broader ramifications.
But friends pointed out that in all the paperwork involved in the overlapping criminal cases involving Kealoha, there’s been no evidence or references to drug use.
That changed this week.
This line in a memo filed in Hawaii’s Federal District Court on Wednesday immediately jumped out at me.
“As part of this investigation, multiple witnesses have identified KEALOHA as a user of controlled substances.”
Prosecutors repeated the assertion at least a couple of times in their 12 page motion.
“Controlled substances” is a broad legal category. A quick online search turned up this 17-page listing of “controlled substances” including medications as well as illegal drugs.
No, this certainly doesn’t prove my hypothesis, but it does provide the first suggestion in the public record that supports it.
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Can’t continually dance around this fact.
Only AGAIN highlights how opioids hurt wide swaths of personalities and finances.
There’s no punishment that can recapture the huge losses.
Looks like they were referring to drugs like oxycodone. I can only imagine the defense: DAMN THE DRUG COMPANIES!!!!
The very last line of the continuing Lyon bribery story in today’s SA says: “Court documents do not identify the state agency, employee or the project.” Bribery only occurs when there are 2 or more willing participants. Corruption is alive and well in Hawaii until the parties are exposed and prosecuted.
SAT question:
Lyon pays a $240,000 bribe for a $2.5M contract. Rail = $9B…. how much in bribes are paid?
More likely, methinks, is schizo-like mental episodes … a manic.
Except that I don’t think mania sends you off on precarious and illegal schemes.
Ok, Kealoha’s and Kaneshiro explained! But, another half day and another subpoena, now what was H.A.R.T. Smoking? Besides our tax dollars! Maybe transit types go old school paint sniffing or more likely direct Meth injections! Lunatic’s galore in “Blue Hawaii”. Even POTUS refers to our Senior U.S. Senator “Crazy” Mazie…hard to disagree.
POTUS is crazy Mazie is a decent human being.
Decent humans have no super powers like late Senator Inouye or Congresswoman Mink. Tough as nails and extremely powerful our greatest. Decent humans can defend the Peace Corps, but have no hopes to lead 50 States and Trust Terrortories, our nation.
Inouye the king or pork was a rapist and sexual predator, that’s not superpowers, thats exploitation.
Mr. Masai, Senator Mazie Hirono, has no real accomplishments like Senator Inouye’s financial legacy or social justice victories like that of Congresswoman Mink with Title Nine.
If your news of late Senator Inouy’s rape conviction is from the Buttler Cult and a long gone former Republican State Senator named Rick Reed it is fake news!
Senator Hirono is good at fanning national divisions, but in comparison to Senator Schatz, not effective except for tv news show entertainment.
I know Senator Hirono, she is nice, not one bit shy, but she has failed to produce anything other than conflict. Senator Hirono has alway’s had a strong voice and played toe to toe with boy’s. She certainly does not need gentle glove handling as you state.
Hands off Mazie-known her since college a really good person at heart, and finally finding her voice nationally.
Drugs might have been the root cause. It still does not excuse the glaring fact that many in Hawaii’s senior law enforcement community were aware of the behavior and actively covering it up. Lucky to live Hawaii indeed…state of sad corruption.