Senator Jarrett Keohokalole (District 24 – Kāne‘ohe, MCBH, Kailua, He‘eia, ‘Āhuimanu) issued a statement today regarding a settlement agreement and resolution of investigation that he signed and filed this morning with the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission:
“Over the past few months, I have been cooperating with the State Ethics Commission regarding a review of three legislative reimbursements I received: two for plane tickets to legislative conferences, and one for food for a town hall, totaling $1,264.04. I paid upfront for these expenses with campaign funds, and sought a reimbursement through my office’s legislative allowance. While those reimbursements were permissible under the rules, I deposited the reimbursement funds into my personal bank account instead of my campaign account by mistake. Doing so violated the Fair Treatment provisions of the State Ethics Code, and I was ordered to return the reimbursement and pay an additional penalty of $1,500.00.
I am embarrassed by this situation. These were mistakes that could have been easily avoided. I take full responsibility for my actions, and when I was notified of an investigation, worked openly with the Ethics Commission to resolve the matter, including voluntarily providing our expense reports and bank statements. I have also made changes to our accounting processes both personally and in my office to ensure that this does not happen again.
The plane tickets purchased were for attendance at the 2018 Council of State Governments Western Legislative Academy in Colorado Springs, CO and for attendance at the 2019 National Conference of State Legislatures Emerging Leaders program in San Jose, CA. The remaining purchase was a pupu platter and a bucket of Zippyʻs chili that I provided for a community town hall in Kāneʻohe in January of 2020.
Government transparency matters. Details matter. Things like this make people feel they can’t trust their leaders. In light of the range of recent reports of misconduct by government officials, I felt it important to disclose these violations immediately and publicly, so that my constituents and community understand that I take these matters and their trust seriously. I am moving to resolve them in the most accountable manner possible.”
Documents relating to this matter will be released by the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission and posted on their website in the coming days.
To request an interview with Senator Jarrett Keohokalole regarding this matter, please email j.aki@capitol.hawaii.gov.