2006-02-08 Board of Ethics Minutes Regular

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frankly to Mr. Onizuka's credit, he's present here today—he raised concerns or a question regarding, through Ms. Pakele, because of the fact that after Mr. Onizuka had retired from American Savings Bank in Kona, his second career, so to speak, is he now works with the Oceanside 1250 Partners, is that correct Mr. Onizuka? And I didn't know Mr. Onizuka before this. We've never met before, you know, just this board and commission activity, I had the pleasure of meeting him. In corresponding with him, through Mr. Kelly, I learned that he is not directly affiliated with the Clubhouse of Hokulia, who apparently has a liquor license granted through the Department of Liquor Control, but it's not yet active. Basically you have Mr. Onizuka, who is sort of employed by the parent company, so to speak. He doesn't have any input or activity with the daily operations of the Clubhouse at Hokulia. At that point, when we discussed it informally, we concluded that there wasn't going to be a problem, and it just wasn't an issue. But like I said, to Mr. Onizuka's credit, and because, you know, in an abundance of caution, we wanted to be sure. That's why we're here before you today, just to verify and to ensure that there isn't any violation of the Hawaii County Code of Ethics. Like I said, it's in —our interpretation, and I represent the Liquor Department—we don't believe there is. That's why we're here today, just in an abundance of caution, to verify that. We want to make sure there's no controversy surrounding this, any type of —you know, anything said or alluded to, that there's any impropriety or any appearance of impropriety, and that's why we appear before you today. I'm more than happy to answer any questions, and will submit both Ms. Pakele and Mr. Onizuka to ask, if you have any questions. KK: Thank you, Mr. Ashida. Do the members of the Board have any questions? KI: Yeah, I have a question. Mr. Onizuka, it states here that you are an employee of Oceanside 1250. ONIZUKA: Yes. KI: May I ask what do you do as an employee? ONIZUKA: My position is Director of Community and Public Affairs. Basically what I'm doing is getting community groups, offering them tours of the property, to acquaint the public with the property, so that they're —what they hear and read in the media is not, you know, totally true. I think a lot of people have not seen the project, and that's what we want to expose them to. KK: Any further questions? AL: I have a question on the—in Section 281- 11(b), where it says "no person shall be a member of any commission or board who is or becomes engaged or is directly or indirectly interested in any business for the manufacture or sale." So is it an indirect interest? What is it? ONIZUKA: (inaudible) 3