Former Mayor Harry Kim used his Hawaii County purchasing card less often than Mayor Billy Kenoi, who is embroiled in a pCard scandal, at least during Kim’s last 18 months in office.
Former Mayor Harry Kim used his Hawaii County purchasing card less often than Mayor Billy Kenoi, who is embroiled in a pCard scandal, at least during Kim’s last 18 months in office.
From June 2007 until December 2008, Kim spent $7,512.09 with his pCard, or about $417 per month, according to county records the Tribune-Herald obtained through a records request.
In comparison, Kenoi, who worked for Kim as an executive assistant, spent on average $1,727 per month as mayor before his pCard was revoked, or about $1,312 per month if his reimbursements are taken into account.
The state Attorney General’s Office is investigating Kenoi’s pCard use after Big Island newspapers reported he billed the county for tabs at Honolulu hostess bars and personal items. He later reimbursed the county for the charges.
The county typically maintains pCard records for no more than six years, and the rest of Kim’s charges during his eight years as mayor were unavailable, according to the Finance Department.
Kim said he spent on average about $3,000 to $4,000 per year, and called the amount of charges seen in the last months of his second term unusual.
“That was a high year, to tell you the truth,” he said. “I’m not making any excuses here.”
Those charges included three bills at the Hilo Yacht Club totaling $2,508.54.
Kim said that money was spent hosting dignitaries, mostly from Indonesia, for lunch.
“Hopefully, the public will say this is reasonable,” he said.
“I don’t know. Maybe they may say, ‘God damn, Harry is ripping us off, too.’
“And I don’t blame them. We earn our own reputation.”
Kim’s other charges mainly covered airfare and hotel costs for trips to Honolulu for county business. He said he rarely stayed overnight.
While their spending habits differ as mayors, Kenoi rarely used his pCard when he was an executive assistant to Kim.
For the same time period, June 2007 until December 2008, he charged $774.11, almost all for travel.
Kenoi reimbursed the county for two car rental charges totaling $83.01 as an aide.
Kim said he recalled using his pCard once for an expense he considered personal. He said he took a few county employees out to lunch, and put the $35.21 bill on the card because he didn’t have cash on him.
Kim said he reimbursed the county for the expense that same day.
“Whether it was right or wrong … If I look at it, I guess it wasn’t right,” he said.
In addition to charges at hostess bars, Kenoi has been in hot water for using his pCard for other personal items, including a pricey surf board and bicycle. He typically reimbursed the county within a few days or months, though he chose to reimburse the county for an additional $7,500 in April after Big Island newspapers began reporting about his pCard use.
Since taking office in December 2008, he spent $129,580.73 with his pCard and paid back $31,112.59.
During the last 18 months of Kim’s administration, his executive assistants together charged $31,397.69, or about $1,744 per month, on their pCards.
Many of the expenses mirrored charges from Kenoi’s aides, including omiyage purchases at Big Island Candies and travel expenses for themselves and people participating in county projects or events.
Under Kenoi’s administration, executive assistants together averaged $1,905 per month in pCard charges as of April.
While Kim’s administration also purchased items for omiyage, he said he disagreed with gifting alcohol, at least when county funds were involved.
“I dislike booze being the center of American way of life,” said Kim, who says he never drinks.
County records show one of Kenoi’s aides spent $348 on wine April 23, 2014, in Honolulu. On the receipt was written: “omiyage for legislators.” Twenty-five bottles were purchased, enough to give one to each state senator.
Kenoi was visiting the state Capitol that week to urge lawmakers to provide neighbor islands with a greater share of the state’s transient accommodation tax, according to an article published in Big Island newspapers April 25, 2014.
The pCard records for Kim’s administration include a $22.27 purchase in September 2008 at Kadota Liquor in Hilo.
Roy Takemoto, the aide who made the purchase, said it likely was for ice. He said he couldn’t recall purchasing alcohol for county business.
“If it was alcohol, it would be for a really good reason,” he said.
Asked about the current controversy, Kim jokingly called himself a “dud” and said he would never be found with an alcoholic drink, let alone at a hostess bar.
“It’s hard for me to find reasons” for those purchases, he said.
“I’m really sorry this is happening,” Kim said. “I know this adds to people’s distrust (in government).”
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.