Kenoi’s Credit Card Use Under Greater Scrutiny
The Attorney General’s Office and an ethics board will look into the Hawaii County mayor’s practices.
Reporter Nancy Cook Lauer on the story she broke last weekend regarding Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi. Excerpt:
A state attorney general investigation and an ethics complaint are following this week鈥檚 revelations that Mayor Billy Kenoi regularly used a county-issued credit card for personal purchases ranging from a $1,200 surfboard to visits to Honolulu hostess bars.
County Prosecutor Mitch Roth said he and state Attorney General Doug颅las Chin discussed the issue Tuesday and decided it would be best for Chin to handle the investigation, to make it more independent of the county.
鈥淲ith all the questions and inquiries and accusations, it just should be as transparent as possible,鈥 Roth said Friday. 鈥淎n independent review would be better than having another county agency look into it. …”
The county鈥檚 legislative auditor also is looking into the county鈥檚 use of purchasing cards, known as pCards. Auditor Bonnie Nims said last month the audit is ongoing and expected to wrap up in the next few months. She couldn鈥檛 be reached Friday for an update.
And, a Kapaau resident who previously filed election complaints in a County Council race said he plans to file an ethics complaint next week. …
Kenoi has paid back all personal expenses and apologized for his behavior.聽His county-issued purchasing card has also been torn up.
Kenoi, who is in the middle of his second and聽final聽term as mayor, has been said聽to be a potential candidate for governor or Congress.
Hawaii Mayor Billy Kenoi at the Capitol in January.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
