Businessman and longtime Hawaii political heavyweight Dennis Mitsunaga has financed a new political action committee that is supporting U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, but the PAC already may be at risk for a fine from the state Campaign Spending Commission for failing to file proper disclosures with the state.
An advertisement fielded by Defend Hawaii Now aired on KHON on Thursday evening, and features the voice of U.S. Rep Tulsi Gabbard announcing that she endorses Hanabusa.
Campaign Spending Commission staff said as of late Friday afternoon the super PAC had not filed a “statement of information for electioneering communication” that is required when a PAC spends more than $2,000 on an election within 30 days of a primary election.
If Defend Hawaii spent more than $2,000 on the ad, it could be subject to a $500 fine for failing to file that statement, according to commission staff. Defend Hawaii is also required to register as a non-candidate committee if it spent more than $1,000.
“We just want to get them visible. Right now, they’re invisible,” said Kristin Izumi-Nitao, executive director of the Campaign Spending Commission. “All you guys, everybody wants to see them.”
The Defend Hawaii advertisement revisits the Jan. 13 ballistic missile false alert and the escape of murderer Randall Saito from Hawaii State Hospital. Ige’s face flashes on the screen as a voice announces, “We’ve had enough of an incompetent government in Hawaii. We deserve better.” Hanabusa’s face then appears.
A disclosure statement on the ad says it was not approved by any candidate or candidate committee, and a spokeswoman for Gabbard said that “while Tulsi has endorsed Colleen Hanabusa in her run for governor, she has not coordinated with this group or any PACs on this or any ad. We haven’t seen the ad, so don’t know what’s in it or how they got it.”
Ige issued a written statement Friday describing the ad as “yet another act of desperation from the special interest supporting my opponent. Voters are smarter than this and they will outright reject this abuse of power and money. Leadership is doing things for the right reasons, not for special or self interest. I am confident they will vote for the candidate with a record of accomplishments for the public’s interest.”
The ad lists Waimea Associates LLC as the top contributor to PAC Defend Hawaii Now. State records show Mitsunaga, who is president and CEO of the local architectural, engineering and construction management firm Mitsunaga & Associates, is the manager of Waimea Associates.
Mitsunaga has been a generous donor to various campaigns in the past, and in 2016 was a leading sponsor of a political action committee called “Save Our City LLC” in 2016. That PAC spent hundreds of thousands on ads opposing the re-election of Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Mitsunaga was unavailable for comment Friday.
