Caldwell Fundraiser Pumps the Tourism Industry for Cash
An email was sent to potential donors the same day the mayor signed bills that would ban sitting and lying on Waikiki sidewalks, as well as public urination and defecation.
Talk about good timing.
An hour before Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell designed to push the homeless out of Waikiki and stop them from urinating and defecating in public, his campaign fundraiser Mitchell Imanaka blasted out a message about an upcoming donor event at the Trump International Hotel.
The Sept. 16 email, recently obtained by Civil Beat, doesn鈥檛 specifically list the recipients, but it鈥檚 clear that it was tailored to those who are involved with Hawaii鈥檚 multi-billion-dollar visitor industry. It also aims to recruit as many potential donors as possible to support Caldwell for his 2016 re-election bid.
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s campaign is hoping the tourism industry helps pump up his war chest.
PF Bentley/Civil Beat
鈥淎s you know, the Mayor has been highly supportive of our tourism industry, especially to our businesses in Waikiki,鈥 Imanaka wrote. 鈥淚f each of you can bring at least (5) people to this event, it will send a strong message that the visitor industry is appreciative of his Administration鈥檚 efforts to improve the visitor experience on Oahu.鈥
Imanaka also thanked everyone who attended a kick-off breakfast for the fundraiser that took place the week before. He attached a flyer that he said could be used to help solicit donations from supporters in advance of the Oct. 8 fundraiser. The suggested contribution for the event is $500.
Caldwell already has a flush bank account, according to the most recent campaign spending data. So far, he鈥檚 already raised to help keep him in office.
Imanaka is a Honolulu-based business attorney, and is the main organizer behind Caldwell鈥檚 campaign fundraisers. He鈥檚 also a lobbyist who has represented the tourism industry.
According to filed with the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, Imanaka鈥檚 clients have included Turtle Bay Resort, Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Soleil Management Hawaii and Consolidated Resorts Management.
Imanaka declined to comment and instead referred questions to Caldwell’s campaign chair Lex Smith.
A flyer for an upcoming fundraiser for Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
Submitted
