Most Lawmakers’ Gifts Uniquely Hawaii

By /
Reading time: 3 minutes.

A glance through the $137,000 in gifts Hawaii lawmakers received over the past year shows a lot of local items 鈥斅爉alasadas, kadomatsu plants and lei haku, to name a few.

But no surprise, the gifts were predominantly food items. One lawmaker called them “gifts of aloha.” They show what a big role food plays in Hawaii politics.

And who hasn’t brought a box of manapua or Big Island shortbread cookies to the office? No wonder legislators get them as gifts, too.

Here’s a sampling of some of the food gifts legislators accepted. (While not required, many lawmakers gifts valued at below the $200 threshold for disclosure.)

Candies, Cookies

  • Li hing mui seeds, valued at between $1 and $5, from Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz to several lawmakers
  • Fudge, valued at $8, to Rep. George Fontaine from the Maui Chamber of Commerce
  • Hawaiian Host chocolates, valued at $5, to Sen. Pohai Ryan from Meadow Gold
  • Big Island Candies brand cookies, valued at $10, to Rep. Mele Carroll from Puna Geothermal
  • Yoku Moku cookies, valued at $40, to Rep. Derek Kawakami from the Hawaii Insurers Council

Sweets

  • Cupcakes, valued at $5, to Rep. Roy Takumi from Hawaii Women Lawyers
  • Apple strudel bites, valued at $8, to Rep. Scott Saiki from Equality Hawaii Foundation
  • Poi malasadas, valued at $10, to Rep. Gilbert Keith-Agaran from Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald
  • Baked butter mochi, valued at $10, to Keith-Agaran from City Council member Nestor Garcia
  • Manju, valued at $10, to Sen. Kalani English from Maui Community College
  • Malasadas, valued at $10, to Rep. Ty Cullen from the Department of Public Safety’s Sheriff Division
  • Cream puffs, valued at $12, to House Speaker Calvin Say from Eddie Hayashi

Dim Sum, Sushi

  • Sushi, valued at $12, to Rep. Say from Wendall Murakawa
  • Dim sum, valued at $20, to former Rep. Hermina Morita from the Kauai Island Utility Coop
  • Manapua and pork hash, valued at $20, to Sen. Brickwood Galuteria from Kamehameha Schools
  • Manapua and dim sum, valued at $50, to Rep. Denny Coffman from BioEnergy Hawaii.
  • Maki and cone sushi, valued at $11, to Keith-Agaran from the Maui Economic Opportunity

Snacks

  • Hurricane popcorn, valued at $7, to Rep. Della Au Belatti from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
  • Gift basket, valued at $20, to Rep. George Fontaine from First Assembly of God
  • Goft basket, valued at $20 to Rep. Marilyn Lee from the Hawaii Government Employees Association
  • Gift basket, valued at $25 to English from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs
  • Island Princess snacks, valued at $28, to Rep. Cynthia Thielen from OHA
  • Fruit baskets, valued at $50, to Reps. Mele Carroll and Cynthia Evans from Bikers United
  • Gift basket, valued at $50, to Galuteria from Cox Radio Hawaii

Other

  • Pa’i ai, valued at $5, from Legalize Pa’i ai Ohana to Reps. Au Bellati and Takumi
  • Molokai Bread and coffee, valued at $6, to Rep. Say from the Molokai Community Health Center
  • Kona coffee, valued at $30, to Coffman from the Hawaii State Teachers Association-Big Island
  • Gift card to Ruth’s Chris steakhouse, valued at $25, to Cullen from the the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii

Support Independent, Unbiased News

Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in 贬补飞补颈驶颈. When you give, your donation is combined with gifts from thousands of your fellow readers, and together you help power the strongest team of investigative journalists in the state.

 

About the Author