2008-09-03 Board of Ethics Minutes Regular Session

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NAEOLE: Morning. CHAIR: Anyone else? Okay. All right, Michael, obviously you're representing Ms. Naeole in this matter? UDOVIC: I am, thank you, and we've provided the members of the Board with a response by Ms. Naeole dated July 29, 2008. CHAIR: July 28th or 29t1' L UM: This letter. July 29th CHAIR: Okay. Why don't you start - -give us a background, your side of the story, what happened. UDOVIC: Well, my understanding of the incident was that Ms. Naeole, as you are aware, is a council member for the County of Hawai `i, and public hearings were held regarding bond issues with respect to the Kona Community Center. And a number of persons testified with respect to that, and there were differing opinions. At the time, Ms. Naeole did not support the bond issue, and either the next day or the day after, Ms. Naeole made a phone call to the petitioner, the substance of which is on a tape which is available for the Board to listen to, wherein she described her feelings regarding that. And I spoke to Ms. Naeole about, you know, what the purpose behind the phone call was, and she advised me that —on the second page of the letter —was to suggest that there are differing opinions among the various parties about these issues, and she respects the opinions of all parties, even though they may differ. And she just wanted to assure the party that that's what her position was. And the petitioner apparently felt that that was being disrespectful by Ms. Naeole, but that wasn't her intention, to cause any disrespect or discourtesy to the person at all, but just to advise them that they did have differing opinions and she in fact does respect it. And when you listen to the tape, and the tape is here, I understand, for the Board members to listen to, one of the important aspects of this is that she said she respects your mana `o about the civics center and all you guys need in Kona, and you know, tita, I feel now it's not a time, you know. And so what we're dealing with is the language that was used, cultural differences and sensitivities which, you know, some we may not be specifically attuned to. But it certainly wasn't Ms. Naeole's intention to cause any disrespect or discourtesy to any members of the public, especially to employees of the County of Hawai `i. But the tape is here, and you can listen to the tone of voice and how she said the words that she said, and, you know —she's just a local Puna girl who grew up there and talks like a Puna girl, you know. I mean —she's here, and you can ask her questions if you want. She'll answer the questions if you have any. L UM: I just have a question about —the phone call was to Lisa Nahoopii, right? And is she- UDOVIC: - -She's notpresent, I don't think. 3