Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control, the flagship of Mike Miske’s group of companies, was twice voted the #1 pest control company in the annual “Hawaii’s Best” readers’ poll, taking top honors in 2014 and 2019, if I recall correctly.
I’m sure they had some genuine supporters.
But they also had a few tricks to influence the poll results.
This photo was introduced during Miske’s ongoing racketeering trial in federal court.
It shows a number of Kamaaina employees in company shirts sitting around a conference table hard at work filling out multiple ballots. It appears they’ve been at it for a while, as most have water or other drinks with them.
Of course, the newspaper clearly stating that this doesn’t pretend to be a scientific poll.
Results were published with a caveat: “This is not a scientific poll; results reflect the opinions of only those voting.”
Nonetheless, this certainly makes you wonder whether this is common among other companies as well.
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Not surprised. Looking at some of the winners, you can bet the same procedure occurred. Didn’t HonoluluWeekly start that poll?
Of course, the newspaper clearly stating that this doesn’t pretend to be a scientific poll.
What newspaper?! The Honolulu Weekly? The Honolulu Advertiser? Or, Star
Advertised? It would nice to have that information included in the post.
Any photos of them marking absentee ballots?
Only for the newspaper poll.
A picture’s worth 1000 words!
This picture brings to mind the activities at Kamaaina Termite Queen St headquarters. Were they shooting firearms next door or buying guns and ammo? The wall of their 940 Suite A Queen St. headquarters was shared with a gun range and ammo store next door at 940 Suite B Queen St.
This picture brings to mind the activities at Kamaaina Termite Queen St headquarters. Were they shooting firearms next door or buying guns and ammo? The wall of their 940 Suite A Queen St. headquarters was shared with a gun range and ammo store next door at 940 Suite B Queen St.
Arthur Ong The previous owner of the gun range at 940 Suite A Queen St. was a felon that went to prison for four years and three months in prison for tax evasion. The IRS says Arthur Ong of Magnum Firearms created multiple phony trusts to hide millions of dollars of income from weapons sales. Authorities say he falsified tax returns and evaded about $900,000 in federal and state income taxes over a six-year period. US District Judge Leslie Kobayashi ordered the gun dealer to pay more than $1 million in restitution.
Ong was sentenced in the tax evasion case in 2012. After his imprisonment, the gun shop continued in business under different ownership, and was often at odds with Miske and those who hung around Kamaaina Termite.
It never ceases to amaze me how often criminals document their own misbehavior. Granted, this would be a stretch to be considered ‘criminal behavior’, but it definitely shows that they aren’t above doing shady things to get ahead.
Follow a rabbit hole down into Instagram, and you’ll be shocked by how many people love to openly brag about their fighting cocks and share photos of the gatherings at cock fights. Pretty amazing.