An Open Letter to Hawaii’s U.S. Senators, Sen. Brian Schatz and Sen. Mazie Hirono*
Aloha, Brian and Mazie.
I’m writing about a concern with one small aspect of the upcoming transition to the administration of President Joe Biden.
One of the changes we will feel here in the islands is the likely appointment of a new U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii.
There are some in our community who, in conspiratorial fashion, are openly opining that a new, Democratic appointee to this position is going to find a way to short-circuit the currently ongoing federal probe into corruption in the islands. The investigation has already led to the successful prosecution of Honolulu’s former police chief, Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine, a top city prosecutor, along with several police officers for abuses of power in a case that rocked HPD, and the city, to their roots. There are several figures who received “target” letters in that investigation, including the city prosecutor, who are still waiting to see if they will eventually be summoned to court.
And now that investigation has fueled another deep cleaning of our system, this time with the 22-count indictment of Honolulu businessman, Mike Miske, Jr (I suppose, “former” Honolulu businessman would be the more accurate descriptor at this point), and ten alleged co-conspirators in what prosecutors say was a major criminal organization Miske controlled and directed.
Current U.S. Attorney Kenji Price said at a press conference after the Miske-related arrests in July that eight others snagged in the investigation were being sent target or subject letters. Prosecutors in the case have stated in court filings the investigation is still ongoing.
And a third federal probe, this time of alleged corruption in Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting, has only recently been disclosed, reportedly resulting in multiple target letters being issued by prosecutors.
I don’t believe that the justice system is so political that the relatively routine appointment of a new U.S. Attorney in Hawaii would derail these cases, which are exposing longstanding problems in our city and state.
However, in a recent public online discussion sponsored by Civil Beat, Alexander Silvert, the recently retired federal defender who uncovered the police misconduct that eventually led to the Kealoha prosecutions, said he believes Hawaii’s political, economic, and social establishment would prefer these investigations be ended because they risk exposing others higher up in the power structure.
You both have enviable track records for integrity and your opinions–Sen. Schatz as our “senior” senator, and Sen. Hirono as a member of the Judiciary Committee–will certainly hold considerable sway when the president makes his choice of the person to serve as Hawaii’s new US Attorney. It is important that you do whatever you can to keep the conspiracy theorists at bay, and assure that these investigations are allowed to move forward to completion without fear or favor.
/s/ Ian Lind
Investigative reporter/blogger
*The first version of this letter, posted early this morning, was addressed to Senator Schatz, who is technically our senior senator, albeit only by a few weeks. But with a prompt from “Michael formerly of Waikiki,” I realized it really should be addressed to both. Senator Hirono is, after all, a member of the Judiciary Committee. So I’ve revised it to reflect that.
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We are in for dark times indeed when DPP who is under federal investigation will be headed by the former boss of LURF, the shadowy developer group who has worked to undermine our environment. The groups lobbyist was fined for unregistered lobbying by the Ethics Commission and really needs federal scrutiny.
LURF’s mission is to “promote and advance the interests of the development community, particularly in the areas of land use laws and regulations.” LURF touts as some of its major accomplishments:
*LURF fought hard to convince the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service to reduce critical habitat designations and mandated conservation areas.
*LURF successfully lobbied to reduce requirements for developer applicant reviews by the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR/SHPD).
*LURF successfully lobbied to require the Department of Health (DOH) to delete various protections involving native Hawaii rights, historic preservation, coastal zone management and environmental impact reviews for storm water management permits.
*LURF actively opposed the requirement of landowners to provide lateral access along the coast line.
And LURF has been extremely active in what has almost become an annual effort to weaken HRS Chapter 343 (EIS Laws), they were core supporters of the Public Lands Development Corporation (PLDC) and numerous other efforts to exempt various development projects from environmental, health, planning and public interest laws now in place.
LURF is anything but shadowy. The are among the most visible advocacy groups around. The are never hesitant to make their positions known. This is a statement appointment by the new administration. They are saying that they want DPP to be more developer friendly, cut down on permit processing times. It is something many expected.
Kenji Price has been a good US Attorney. He doesn’t get involved in politics, he seems level headed, put a lot of bad guys in jail. Might be a good judge some day. Maybe our congressional delegation can convince the Biden administration to keep him on.
THANK YOU for sharing this “open letter” Ian. We all hope it’s read and replied to with an equally sincere response.
Regarding your letter, I really don’t have much else to add except for the fact that without modern-day investigative muckrakers like you, none of us would be remotely aware of what’s really happening with these federal probes/investigations.
I suppose Sen. Schatz can reply saying “don’t worry, we have a great candidate in ‘fill in the blank’ that will inspire public trust and confidence, etc. . . .”
But I’m with you, let Kenji Price finish the job.
PS: why wasn’t the same letter sent to Mazie?
Thank you for writing this letter Ian.
AMEN.
We CANNOT afford to let up at this point. To do so would be a travesty and grave disservice to the citizens of this state and especially C&C of HNL.
HNL had a much overdue colonoscopy and Price is doing a good job of probing. I certainly hope he stays here an extra couple years. I know the federal system requires transfers and ticket punches in order to be promoted and recognized but continuity here is important!
The dysfunction and corruption here is deep. We can’t count on our own to clean house so the Feds it must be.
Thanks Ian.
How about posting your letter in Civil Beat?
An excellent close to 2020, mahalo for sharing this with your readership. Let’s hope they take your suggestion to heart.
Indeed, mahalo Mr. Lind!