The Hawaii County Board of Ethics has deferred a citizen’s petition filed against Mayor Billy Kenoi over use of his county-issued credit card for personal expenses.
The Hawaii County Board of Ethics has deferred a citizen’s petition filed against Mayor Billy Kenoi over use of his county-issued credit card for personal expenses.
The three-member board voted unanimously today to wait until the state Attorney General’s Office completes its investigation of the matter before proceeding. Chairwoman Ku Kahakalau said the board members plan to review public records of the card charges in the meantime.
“I’d rather move forward,” said board member Douglas Adams, who made the motion. “I think we’d be hindering or perhaps causing problems for the other investigation and that’s not what we should be doing.”
Kapaau resident Lanric Hyland filed the petition alleging Kenoi violated ethics rules for using the card for personal expenses that included trips to Honolulu hostess bars. The petition also names county Finance Director Deanna Sako.
During his tenure, Kenoi has repaid the county $31,112.59 for charges he determined to be personal and not business related. He told reporters in Honolulu a month ago that he doesn’t have a personal credit card.
Kenoi charged a total of $129,580.73 on the card before it was rescinded following newspaper reports regarding the personal charges.