Less than three months after Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control owner, Michael J. Miske, Jr., was indicted and arrested in a pre-dawn raid at a Kailua home, I wrote a blog post noting that one of his companies was licensed as a used car dealer. At the time, I didn’t have much information about the business beyond state licensing and business registration records.
An updated and expanded version of that early blog post was published this morning over at Civil Beat (“The Miske Files: Accused Murderer, Crime Boss And … Used Car Dealer?).
Former Honolulu business owner and alleged racketeering kingpin, Michael J. Miske Jr., owned a company that bought hundreds of cars at a wholesale dealers-only auction over a period of several years, allegedly using threats and intimidation to discourage rival bidders and buy cars at rock-bottom prices.
The company, Hawaii Partners LLC, was licensed as a used car dealer and registered to do business at the same Queen Street address in Kakaako that served as headquarters for Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control Inc., perhaps the largest and best known of Hawaii termite treatment firms, and the most widely recognized of Miske’s many businesses.
I’m hoping that more of those who bought cars from Miske’s associates, tried to conplain, and were threatened, will now come forward to share their stories.
An interesting side note. Car dealers are regulated by the state’s Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board. While working on this latest story, I wondered whether the licensing board took any notice when a federal racketeering indictment alleged that one of its licensed used car dealers was part of a broad and sometimes violent criminal organization. Did the board ever consider whether the case exposes deficiencies in their oversight, and whether there might have been more that they could have done to prevent harm to the public?
The board’s minutes are available online. Looking through the minutes, beginning at the meeting following the arrests of Miske and his co-defendants in mid-July 2020, I haven’t found any discussion at all concerning Hawaii Partners LLC or its activities as a licensed dealer.
I found the same lack of concern by the Pest Control Board. Board minutes show it had only the briefest discussion of what went wrong with its oversight of Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control.
At the board’s regular meeting of September 28, 2020, a member of the public described her experience with Kamaaina Termite and the board.
Ms. Sandie Wong was present and provided oral testimony. She came to the board 10 years ago when she had a problem with a
pest control company, Kama’aina Termite and Pest Control, which she retained to inspect a condo that she had purchased. Their
inspection report said that there were no termites. However, when her contractor went in, they found the condo had a termite
infestation. She called Kama’aina Termite and Pest Control, spoke with Mike Miske and asked them to come back to re inspect. She said that he told her that they cannot go back and if she did not like it, that she could sue them. She discovered that there was no remedy for consumers in her situation if a pest control company does not follow the standards. She tried to change the law but was unsuccessful. She is in support of the proposed amendments to the administrative rules and encourages the Board to do consider creating a remedy if the pest control operator does not adhere to the standards in future changes.
The board’s response? “Chair Manago thanked Ms. Wong for her testimony and all the background information. The Board will be working on future revisions to the rules, as necessary.”
Case closed.
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It’s a little surprising that The Termite Gang didn’t also run a car stereo shop, tattoo parlor, and strip club. Then again, that would take a little more actual skill than killing bugs, pimping used cars, and bullying squares.
As always, great read here and in CB. Every purchase seems to serve a purpose. Lumahai St. residence and Christmas lights at Lukela Beach Park…were the jet skis ever scrutinized by the Feds?
And the plot sickens…. thanks to you and no one else digging up the dirt on how some desperate people go to desperate lengths to survive in a run away economic crisis. Fortunately (irony intended) we have a good welfare system for the single families in Hawai’i.
I’m in agreement with all of the prior posts here Ian, including appreciation for your extensive research and excellent reporting here and on Civil Beat. It is my hope the the entire bunch never see the light of day. I know that’s asking a lot, given all the back-room deal making in order to get the creeps to flip on miske – but I hope for the fullest extent of justice for the hideous killing of Jonathan Fraser -an innocent young man.
Mahalo as always Ian
How bout the Tint Shop on Queen St. Is that connected to Miske? Reading the customer reviews sounds super sketchy too.
There is a steady trade of used cars for sale on Oahu Craigslist with obvious odometer rollbacks. (Search age over 15 years and mileage under 70000)
The ‘odometer correction tool’ is available on ebay for $150 and very easy to use.
Odometer rollback is a federal felony (see link). https://www.justice.gov/civil/case/federal-odometer-tampering-statutes
If the guys rolling back odometers and selling them on CL are part of a drug organization then rolling them back into federal prison would be a good way to knock down their operation.
In Hawaii currently the State prints the actual mileage on the Registration and Title each time it is transferred to a new owner. So, this may be one of the few felony they missed.
Well the ever vigilant employees in the DMV allowed the “FCKBLM” personalized plate to pass muster…
The system is not designed for you in any way shape or form.
Excellent article (again) on something very complex. One question I had is did they have a line of credit? And what is the responsibility of a lender (or bank) in all of this with the car dealership?
Any chance you’d consider running a class on courage, tenacity, credibility, & research? Our community needs more of your quiet, proficient, stalwart leadership. A “family” of upcoming investigative reporters holding such high standards would help improve/enlighten our island ohana!
We appreciate your every minute of delving into murky waters.
PITTY the unsuspecting person who hands over their debit or credit card to one of these shady shell companies used for money laundering. Credit card fraud is real.
Hmmm. If I were looking for safe money laundering front business, I think renting mopeds or motorcycles in Waikiki would do the trick.