Ian Lind's NEWS
ARCHIVE
Archive of stories from the Honolulu
Star-Bulletin
Scandal Hits United Public Workers Union
•
Collapse of Pacific Group Medical
Association-series •Democratic
Fundraising Scandal •
Freedom of Information & Privacy
Issues • Fraud &
Abuse • Housing
Issues • Insurance issues
•Judicial Ethics
• Land & Politics
•
House Speaker probed •
Hawaiian Village's Sweetheart Deal-series
• Bishop Estate
•
UH Athletics "Money
Game"-series • Miscellaneous
•
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Democrats
Fundraising Scandal
- Permit blocked for golf course project tied to couple
convicted in campaign finance probe. Lum's project owed $41,398 in
unpaid property taxes. June
30, 1998
The first published account of the links between former Hawaii
consultant Nora Lum and then-Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, and
allegations of campaign fundraising abuses involving a company they
controlled, appeared in the Star-Bulletin in September 1995, months
before the issues broke in the national media. Nora Lum and her
husband, Gene, later became the first to be convicted in the
fundraising investigation.
- Ex-islander "looted" Oklahoma firm, suit claims. Case involves
links to Clinton administration. Sept
1, 1995
- Ron Brown not involved, official says, but Commerce
Secretary's son is company director. Sept
2, 1995
- Oklahoma company headed by ex-islanders linked to illegal
$15,000 campaign gift.
Oct 18, 1995
- Lums linked to golf course projects and contributions. Gene
Lum cited Fifth Amendment when questioned last year about $10,000
contribution to Gov. Waihee. Oct
18, 1995
- Isle woman part of campaign probe. Former resident Nora Lum
figures in a congressional investigation into '92 finances.
Congressional investigators have renewed a probe of former Hawaii
resident Nora T. Lum, and a 1992 campaign project which she
headed. Oct
28, 1996
- Lum's windfall, Dem donations under scrutiny. A "no money
down" investment apparently yielded a windfall of $8 million or
more in just a few months for an Oklahoma company controlled by
Democratic contributor and fundraiser Nora Lum. Nov
4, 1996
Freedom of
Information & Privacy Issues
- Terms of UH Rainbow credit card kept secret. April
10, 2000
- Privacy Law Criticized. State law restricts access to used-car
information, panel told. October
30, 1999
- Island info agency gambles for life. Facing possible
elimination, it shifts attention away from government secrecy.
October
28, 1999
- Small Indignities: Record requests to state highway office met
with Illegal Questions. June
15, 1998
- Economy hurts public's right to know. Government will take
longer and charge more for information requests. May
20, 1998
- Secret Legislative deliberations could violatione State
Constitution. May
8, 1998
- DLNR gag order may step on rights. Similar policies are common
in Hawaii, but they might violate the freedom of speech. April
14, 1998
- OSHA overcharged public for records with unauthorized fee.
Throughout 1997, the Occupational Safety and Health Division
charged $11 to $18 an hour for records searches, but the fee was
not authorized. Jan
2, 1998
- Elsie Wang fails in legal bid to protect the confidentiality
of her patients' records. Judge says physician must permit HMSA to
review files. Dec
30, 1997
- Medical data private? Judge: "No." Doctor's patients say HMSA
invading privacy. HMSA says any of its employees can see a
patient's records, and a state judge agrees. Dec
17, 1997
- Convention center costs locked up. The state says it's "don't
ask, don't tell" when it comes to details of where the $200
million spent for construction of the new convention center has
gone. Aug
26, 1997
- State may cut public's right to records. The state is
preparing new rules that will dramatically change the public's
access to government information, but the specific proposals are
secret. New fees and added response time. among proposed
changes.
Jul 7, 1997
- Suit demands timely land board records. Common Cause and
Environment Hawaii head to court to obtain minutes of Board of
Land and Natural Resources meetings. Jun
11, 1997
- High court blocks release of names of police officers accused
of misbehaving. Apr
18, 1997
- Attorney discipline board says it's above disclosure. But the
attorneys agency answers to the state Supreme Court. If you want
details about the agency that investigates complaints of unethical
conduct against attorneys, you can forget it, at least for now.
Mar
31, 1997
- Star-Bulletin's 'Locked Out' wins national award. The Honolulu
Star-Bulletin yesterday was named winner of the Edward Willis
Scripps award for service to the First Amendment. The national
award by the Scripps Howard Foundation recognized the newspaper's
six-part "Locked Out" series. Mar
18, 1997
- Sex abusers in state jobs sheltered by secrecy rules.
Oct 2,
1996
- LOCKED OUT Hawaii Government's Slide Toward Secrecy SPECIAL
REPORT Day 2. The gutting of the OIP By Ian Lind and Gordon Y.K.
Pang Star-Bulletin. In its first eight years, the state Office of
Information Practices was an important and valuable advocate of
openness. That started to change when Ben Cayetano became
governor. Sep
3, 1996
- Hawaii government's slide toward secrecy. What's happening
elsewhere. Hawaii's law still solid?. The union role. What's Open,
What's Not?. Locked Out Series Archive. LOCKED OUT. Sep
2, 1996
- City keeps private legal bills under wraps. Claims records of
$300,000 expenditure are confidential until final ruling in case.
June 12,
1995
- Fees may climb for public records. Proposed rules would charge
for access. Dec
13, 1995
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Pacific Group Medical Association: Fraud and the
collapse of a fast growing health insurer
- State goes after $2.6 million paid to insiders by defunct
PGMA. December
6, 2000
- Peter Wong, PGMA founder, sued in insurer's collapse.
Commissioner sees negligence and fraud behind the failure, but
another suit targets the state insurance boss. December
21, 1999
- State could be liable for PGMA losses.
Regulators ignored "red flags". November
22, 1999
- Full text of financial investigator Tom Hayes' report
on PGMA (from Circuit Court records)
- Insurance Commissioner drops two law
firms handling PGMA cases. New firm chosen to lead efforts to
recover $27 million from failed health insurer PGMA.
June
25, 1999
- State setting rules for claims against failed insurance firm.
Pacific Group Medical Association, seized in 1997, lacks the funds
to pay debts now estimated at $27 million. April
13, 1999
- Network involved in alleged fraud stretched to the Caymans.
PGMA's founder accused of siphoning millions. Nov
30, 1998.
- Fraud is deemed likely in the collapse of the Pacific Group
Medical Association. Insurer diverted funds, says investigator.
Company owned by union leader's daughter subpoenaed. Jan
14, 1998
- Creditors of Pacific Group Medical Association, the nonprofit
health insurer seized by the state last year, appear unlikely to
recover any losses from company head. Unpaid bills of $18 million
are unlikely to be recovered from PGMA's business manager.
Jan
15, 1998
- The president of the company that processed claims for the
failed Pacific Group Medical Association was paid $6,000 a month
to stay home. His tale is part of the tangled trail that helped
lead to the collapse of isle health insurer PGMA. Feb
5, 1998
- PGMA head now gets legal help from state. Aid comes in an
unrelated case. Plaintiff's attorney is upset about government
entering the case. Jan 26, 1998
- State Insurance Commissioner sues public employee unions to
recover $2.4 million allegedly owed for Pacific Group Medical
Association premiums. Feb 5, 1998
- Doctors, medical businesses sue defunct insurer. The
plaintiffs seek to recover funds from PGMA and an affiliate. Group
of 217 doctors and businesses say they are owed nearly $2 million.
Feb 10, 1998
- Commissioner asking for funds and new powers to regulate
health insurance industry; describes PGMA "coup d'etat". Feb
13, 1998
- Regulators Probe Wong Investment Club, False Financial
Reports. March
4, 1998
Back to top of page
Other insurance issues
- State errors reduce payments of life insurance benefits.
February
15, 2001
- Judge declares Hawaii Healthcare Alliance insolvent. January
16, 2001 Hawaii's insurance chief vows to revoke the agent's
licenses. December
8, 2000
- State takes over Hawaii Healthcare Alliance. Regulators find
health plan unlicensed, short on 'capitalization and reserves'.
November
1, 2000
- Health plan draws state, federal scrutiny. October
23, 2000
Housing Issues
Judicial Ethics
Other stories involving allegations of
fraud
- Safeway to repay shorted customers A computer error caused
over-payments by some customers using a special discount coupon.
December
20, 1999
- Group accused of nationwide scam escapes Hawaii inspection.
State regulators blame budget cuts and lack of staff for a
decision not to investigate Maui workshop. Aug
18, 1998
- Islanders hit by business loan scam. July
29, 1998
- Employees of an isle refuse firm had a contract and were never
told. Union contract concealed for 17 years. May
6, 1997
- More than $4 million lost in what officials say was a Ponzi
scheme linked to entertainer Don Ho's daughter. Money likely gone
for good. DeMattos blames SEC. Jan
10, 1997
- Allegations of EXTORTION:The Web Starts Here. A lawsuit says
stolen documents and publicly circulated fliers are part of an
extortion scheme against an attorney and a businessman. Thieves
last year stole thousands of pages of documents from a major
Honolulu law firm. Jul
3, 1996
- The Related Story:. Extortion. Web of association started with
Aiea real estate deal. How did a local crime figure and the head
of a major real estate firm wind up linked to a proposed
residential development? Jul
3, 1996
- California gang suspected in Hawaii check scam. A Vietnamese
gang from Southern California may be responsible for a spate of
counterfeit checks that have turned up in Hawaii in recent weeks.
Jul 3,
1996
- Promoters often make big money off charities. Groups meant to
benefit get as little as 10% of proceeds. Oct
9, 1995
- Telemarketer under fire. Sued in Washington and banned in
Oregon, telemarketer works here.
Dec 13,
1995
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Miscellaneous
- The largest fireworks seizure in state history made at state
warehouse. March
21, 2000
- Alleged casino in condo pulls out after long fight. May
31, 2000
- Safeway to repay shorted customers A computer error caused
over-payments by some customers using a special discount coupon.
December
20, 1999
- State Rep feels 'vindicated by Ethics Commission opinion The
group says he did not abuse his position when he testified against
the use of a home for commercial weddings. December
30, 1999
- State's largest health insurer accused of 'stacking the deck'
at meeting. Powers of HMSA membership transferred to directors.
Nov 3,
1998
- Women file harassment suit against state agency. Dozens of Big
Island women say they endured systematic sexual harassment by a
public housing inspector. Oct
2, 1996
- TheBus funds hijacked for hospital. 4 million federal grant
diverted to private parking garage. Some $4 million from the
federal government that was supposed to go for buses and bus
facilities will end up paying for a private parking garage under
construction at Kuakini Medical Center. June
12, 1997
- State agrees to pay $675,000 to settle lawsuits stemming from
sexual abuse of children while in state care. Jan
23, 1997
- Public officials got marketplace parking free. Star-Bulletin
staffers also given passes. Acceptance of the VIP passes may have
violated ethics laws, officials say. Nov
19, 1996
- The resignation of the Supreme Court's chief disciplinary
counsel is a mystery. The move was never announced and the people
involved won't discuss it. The Disciplinary Board of the Hawaii
Supreme Court, which investigates charges of ethical misconduct
against attorneys, is refusing to comment. Aug
16, 1996
- Isle doctors criticize new HMSA contract. The issue may spur
efforts to boost regulation of the health insurance industry. The
Hawaii Medical Service Association has proposed a new contract
with doctors statewide that is drawing angry criticism from some
physicians. Nov
17, 1997
- Nearly half of all alcohol sales in restaurants, bars, clubs
and hotels flows through Waikiki. Watering hole of the isles.
Sales of beer, wine and liquor are big business in Honolulu, and
the heart of the business is in Waikiki, according to sales
reports filed with Liquor Commission. Dec
11, 1996
Back to top of page
Former Speaker of State House Probed
- Former House Speaker steered nonbid $273,000 contract to
consultant, then teamed in business deal. Sept
11, 1995
- Controversial nonbid contract paid office rent for business
venture involving House Speaker. Sept
13, 1995
- Ex-pol's firms tied to drug money, prosecutors say. Kihano
lawyers say he wasn't involved with money. Mar
5, 1996
- Two indicted in money launder scheme. Funds ended up in
accounts of firm involving former House Speaker. Apr
18, 1996
- Money probe widens. New indictments sought in case linked to
Kihano. Aug 2,
1996
- Daniel Kihano KIHANO INDICTED. Former speaker charged with
looting campaign chest. Tried to 'fool' investigators. He pocketed
$32,750, federal prosecutors allege. Aug
29,1996
- The former House speaker faces 24 federal charges of violating
campaign law. Federal charges are felonies. The trial of former
state Rep. Daniel J. "Danny" Kihano, who served as speaker of the
House from 1987 until his retirement in 1992, is scheduled to
begin tomorrow. Sep
29, 1997
Land & Politics
- Cayetano calls sewage conspiracy claims 'ridiculous'. Charges
by the Maui corporation counsel, the governor says, are 'very
irresponsible'. July
15, 1998
- Politics charged in Maui sewer case. County attorney says
enforcement timed to hurt Lingle's campaign. July
14, 1998
- Fight heats up over Aina Haina Chapel. Neighbors say
commerical wedding business would harm neighborhood. July
3, 1998
- Wedding business draws opposition. Bayer Estate proposal
prompts three hours of testimony. July
7, 1998
- Investigation Opened into Real Property Assessments. FBI joins
probe. May
1, 1998
- Molokai Ranch moves to have opposing attorney disqualified.
His journalist wife had access to confidential information, they
say. A public relations company and attorneys representing Molokai
Ranch have leveled conflict-of-interest charges against a
free-lance journalist and her husband. Jul
23, 1997
- Land use panel upholds Molokai Ranch campsite ruling. The
ranch will have to get a special use permit for its plan to build
luxury vacation camps. The Land Use Commission has rejected
allegations of Sunshine Law violations brought by Molokai Ranch.
Jul
18, 1997
- Camp Kailua supporters targeted after testimony?. A
community group wants an investigation into tax record checks. A
community group opposing demolition of Camp Kailua will ask for an
investigation into whether the city did computer checks on people
who testified against the Mayor's plan. April
2, 1996
Back to top of page
Hilton Pier Controversy--series
- Hilton and state feud over Waikiki pier lease. Atlantis paid
the hotel $435,000 last year, but state got only $28,000.
Feb 28,
1996
- State moves to let Hilton keep pier lease. The hotel subleases
the Waikiki pier at a substantial profit, but Officials of the
Department of Land and Natural Resources have taken
behind-the-scenes steps to allow the Hilton Hawaiian Village to
retain its control. Apr
25, 1997
- The land board considers ending the profitable, exclusive
permit. Hilton pier lease may be offered to bid. The state Board
of Land and Natural Resources could put an end to more than three
decades of special treatment for the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
May 8,
1997
- Land board hikes Hilton's fees for pier. Voyager Submarines
says it will take the lease if Hilton doesn't want it. Hilton
Hawaiian Village General Manager Peter Schall says he'll have to
examine a decision by the state Board of Land and Natural
Resources. Jun
25, 1997
- The sweetheart lease deal ends for the pier fronting the
hotel. Hilton pays up. The sweetheart deal is over for the Hilton
Hawaiian Village, which for years has paid the state a nominal
lease rent for exclusive control of the landmark pier fronting the
hotel on Waikiki Beach.
Sep 24, 1997
- Hilton Pier could go to top bidder. February
14, 2000
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The Money Game.
A Special Series on Money and University of Hawaii Athletics
- The Money Game. Records detail nearly $50,000 spent on gifts
and entertainment last year. Expenditures may violate state ethics
laws. How booster funds are used. May
20, 1997
- How booster funds are used for country club memberships,
travel and other personal benefits. Booster policy runs counter to
rulings. What's happening elsewhere. May
21, 1997
- How booster clubs skirt UH policy. Tradition, politics and
money add up to an exception. Isles' boosters lag mainland's. The
University of Hawaii athletic department has not yet complied
fully with new Board of Regents' policies. May
22, 1997
- Drive to win?. The president of the University of Hawaii
doesn't get one. The chairman of the Board of Regents doesn't get
one. But the UH athletic director, his top assistants and most
coaches drive donated cars. In exchange, dealers get game tickets
and more, all standard practice, says UH. May
23, 1997
- Records detail nearly $50,000 spent on gifts and entertainment
last year. Some very upset people'. Hidden costs cited. May
20, 1997
Back to top of page
Bishop Estate-Miscellaneous
- Bishop Estate's Hawaii Kai land values slashed. Arbitrators
value Koko Head Villa land at 60% of the asking price. Jan
28, 1998
- Bronster could trigger changes. If the attorney general
decides that changes in trustee selection are needed, the Supreme
Court has the power to make them. Aug
13, 1997
- Estate sues ex-teachers. Bishop Estate wants its severance pay
returned after the two filed bias complaints. Both experienced
educators. Passed over for new jobs. Fabulous people'. Both enjoy
support. Letter of criticism. Oct
7, 1997
- Company headed by Kamehameha V.P. gets lucrative break. GRG
Enterprise gains rent waiver on top of 'sandwhich profits' from
harbor-front land. What appraisals say. Oct
22, 1997
- Princess' will has faced many legal arguments. The judicial
decisions have shaped the current reading of thedocument. At the
center of the controversy over Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate is
the will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Aug
28, 1997
- Profits or the People? Bishop Estate tried to defeat other
Hawaiian interests in the tumult over Waiahole Ditch, putting a
housing development ahead of taro, stream restoration and cultural
renewal in the bid for the life-giving water. Oct
11, 1997
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