6 charged in Honolulu planning, permitting bribery scheme
HONOLULU — Honolulu officials in the city’s planning and permitting department took bribes from architects, contractors and others in exchange for expediting or approving projects, U.S. prosecutors said.
A now-retired building plans examiner accepted at least $100,000 in cash and other gifts from an architect, a contractor and others in exchange for expediting approval of projects, according to an indictment.
The former examiner, Wayne Inouye, 64, was among three defendants who pleaded not guilty during phone hearings Wednesday from the Honolulu Federal Detention Center. A magistrate judge ordered him released on $50,000 bond.
Three current employees of the Department of Planning and Permitting were put on paid leave, based on charging documents unsealed Tuesday, city spokesman Tim Sakahara said. Two others charged are retired.
The sixth defendant is Honolulu architect William Wong, 71, who allegedly gave a building plans examiner at least $28,400 in cash and other gifts.
“He was put in this predicament because of the DPP employees and their greed,” said Megan Kau, Wong’s attorney. “He was trying to conduct his business and get projects done, but he was stonewalled because of DPP procedures. He and others like him were … forced to pay to play.”
A court date for Wong hadn’t yet been scheduled.
Kanani Padeken, 36, a building plans examiner, is accused of taking bribes from Wong in exchange for expedited review of his projects. She couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, and it’s not clear if she has an attorney.
Honolulu law restricting plastic utensils to take effect
HONOLULU — Honolulu food vendors won’t be allowed to provide customers with plastic utensils under a new law that takes effect this week.
A city ordinance, effective Thursday, prohibits plastic forks, knives, spoons, straws, stir sticks, picks and sushi grass.
The rules were originally due to kick in on Jan. 1, but were postponed for 90 days because of the hardship they would place on businesses during the pandemic and to allow for more public education.
Other cities such as San Francisco and Seattle have already banned some single-use plastics. Advocates say the plastic becomes trash that pollutes the ocean and contributes to climate change because oil is used in their production.
Honolulu vendors may provide disposal utensils, but only if they do not contain plastic derived from petroleum.
The new rules include limits on plastic foam at city facilities. Food containers made of plastic foam — such as coffee cups and clamshells — may not be sold, provided or offered for sale or use at city facilities, city-authorized concessions or at city-sponsored and permitted events.
The law will broaden its reach next January, when all Honolulu businesses will be prohibited from using plastic foam containers and plastic service ware except for raw, prepackaged and shelf-stable food.
The city already prohibits most plastic bags, as do Kauai, Maui and Hawaii counties. The city will allow retailers to use thin, “plastic film bags” that don’t have handles that customers may use to place loose produce, nuts and other products in. It will also allow bags without handles that people may use to keep meat, fish and other products from leaking moisture.