HILO >> A Hawaii County police contract for sensitivity training has been canceled amid questions that the bid was given to the mayor’s 2008 campaign manager.

West Hawaii Today reported today Mayor Billy Kenoi canceled the planned contract and that campaign manager Christian Kimo Alameda will instead conduct one training session for free.

Police officials had told the newspaper that the initial class for 40 officers would cost less than $500 and that costs for the remainder of the department had yet to be determined.

Alameda is director of multicultural services for the state Department of Health.

Alameda says the police chief approached him after holding similar sensitivity training for Maui police and that he doesn’t believe being a campaign manager is a conflict of interest.