Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez announced Friday that a criminal investigation into public corruption is underway, as the state grapples with fallout from a federal bribery case that has already sent two former lawmakers to prison and now implicates Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke.
The scandal stems from a yearslong federal investigation into bribery at the highest levels of Hawaii's state government. Former state Representative Ty Cullen and former Senate Majority Leader Kalani English were convicted of accepting bribes from Milton Choy, a Honolulu wastewater company owner, between 2014 and 2021. English was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison, while Cullen received a lighter two-year sentence in exchange for cooperating with federal investigators. Choy died in federal custody in June 2024.
As part of that cooperation, Cullen secretly recorded conversations with other officials while working as an FBI informant. One of those recordings became the foundation of the current state investigation. A sealed federal court filing revealed that in January 2022, Cullen attended a dinner with a lobbyist and an unidentified influential state legislator, during which the lobbyist purportedly handed the legislator roughly $35,000 in cash to be used in an existing campaign. The identity of that legislator has never been publicly disclosed.
However, this week Luke publicly acknowledged she may be the person described in that filing. The former state lawmaker confirmed she attended a dinner with Cullen and lobbyist Tobi Solidum on Jan. 20, 2022. She said she later accepted $10,000 in campaign contributions from Solidum and his daughter, then returned the money two months later after Cullen and English pleaded guilty in the federal case. Luke denied receiving the $35,000 in cash mentioned in the federal filing.
The Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission has since opened a separate inquiry into whether campaign finance laws were broken in connection with these transactions.
During her news conference Friday, Lopez provided an update on the state's own investigation, which she opened after reaching an agreement with federal prosecutors to transfer their evidence to her office. "We have already issued multiple subpoenas and completed several interviews," she said. "The criminal investigation must be conducted methodically and carefully."
Lopez declined to name anyone under investigation or say whether a crime had been committed. "I cannot name names," she said. "I cannot tell you what evidence we've received, and I can't tell you whether or not a crime has been committed."
The attorney general's investigation represents a significant escalation in Hawaii's efforts to address the corruption scandal that has rocked the state's political establishment. The federal case originally focused on bribes paid to influence legislation and regulatory decisions affecting Choy's wastewater business.
The cooperation agreement between state and federal prosecutors allows Hawaii authorities to pursue potential state-level criminal charges that may not have been covered in the federal investigation. This arrangement ensures that all aspects of the alleged corruption can be thoroughly investigated under both state and federal law.
Luke's acknowledgment that she may be the unnamed legislator mentioned in federal filings adds a new dimension to the scandal. As lieutenant governor, she is second in line to the governor and holds significant influence in state government. Her involvement in the dinner meeting, even if no wrongdoing occurred, highlights how the corruption investigation has reached the highest levels of Hawaii's political hierarchy.
The timing of the dinner meeting is particularly significant, as it occurred during Luke's campaign for lieutenant governor. Campaign finance regulations require detailed reporting of contributions, and any unreported cash payments could constitute violations of state election law.
The Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission's parallel investigation will examine whether proper procedures were followed in the handling of campaign contributions from Solidum and his daughter. The fact that Luke returned the money after the federal guilty pleas suggests awareness that the contributions may have been problematic.
The broader implications of this investigation extend beyond the individuals involved. Hawaii's political culture has long been characterized by close relationships between lawmakers, lobbyists, and business interests. The federal and state investigations may prompt reforms to increase transparency and accountability in government operations.
As the state investigation proceeds, Lopez emphasized the importance of conducting a thorough and methodical review of all available evidence. The attorney general's office will need to determine whether any state laws were violated and whether criminal charges are warranted.
The investigation continues as Hawaii works to restore public trust in its government institutions following the federal corruption scandal that exposed bribery at the highest levels of state government.