Billy Kenoi

William P. Kenoi is a Hawaiian politician who has served as Mayor of Hawaii County since 2008. Before being elected mayor, Kenoi served as a legislative aide in the State House and State Senate, a law clerk, a deputy public defender, and an Executive Assistant to then-mayor Harry Kim.^[2]

As of March 23, 2016, Kenoi is under indictment on state charges of theft and other alleged crimes. A bench warrant has been issued for his arrest.^[3][4] Kenoi is reportedly then to be released on his own recognizance.^[3]

Early life and education

Kenoi was born in Kalapana, and attended Waiakea High School.^[5] Kenoi attended both Hawaii Community College and University of Hawaii at Hilo, but then transferred to University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1990, and graduated in 1993.^[6] Kenoi had transferred through the National Student Exchange program, and later became the NSE's President in his first year there.^[6]

In 1992, Kenoi worked as an intern to Senator Daniel Inouye, during which time Kenoi attended the Democratic National Convention in New York City.^[2]

Career

Upon graduating, Kenoi worked as a Legislative Aide to State Representative Les Ihara, Jr. during the 1993 Legislative Session. He then occupied the same position in the State Senate during the 1995 and 1996 sessions.^[2] After graduating from the William S. Richardson School of Law at UH Manoa in 1996, Kenoi passed the bar exam on his first attempt and then served as a clerk for Judge Richard K. Perkins of the Eighth Division of the First Circuit.^[2] Kenoi then worked as a Deputy Public Defender, where he served in the Appellate, Family Court, Juvenile Criminal and Adult Family Court divisions, before finishing his career at the Public Defender’s Office at the Circuit Court.^[2]

Beginning in 2001, Kenoi served as an Executive Assistant to Hawaii mayor Harry Kim, where he worked to address issues including crystal methamphetamine use, as well as homelessness and housing.^[2]

Mayor of Hawaii County (2008–present)

Kenoi ran for mayor in 2008. Though Lorraine Inouye initially led in the opinion polls,^[7] Kenoi advanced to the general election against Angel Pilago. On November 4, 2008, Kenoi defeated Pilago by a margin of 55.6%–40.9%.^[8] At 39, Kenoi became one of the youngest mayors in Big Island history.^[1]

Kenoi was re-elected mayor on November 6, 2012, narrowly defeating former mayor Harry Kim, 49.8%–47.6% – a margin of 1,438 votes.^[9]

2016 criminal indictment

On March 23, 2016, Kenoi was indicted on eight counts: four counts of theft (two of which were misdemeanor charges), three of tampering with government records, and a misdemeanor count of false swearing.^[3][10] The indictments followed an almost one-year investigation by the state.^[3] The misconduct allegedly occurred over a period from 2011 to 2015.^[4]

Almost one year earlier, on March 29, 2015, West Hawaii Today had reported that Mayor Kenoi used his county-issued credit card to charge $892 at a Honolulu hostess bar in December 2013, and did not reimburse Hawaiʻi County until three months later.^[11] The State of Hawaiʻi's Office of the Attorney General later issued subpoenas seeking credit card statements detailing Kenoi's trips to Honolulu hostess bars and local restaurants, as well as travel records for trips abroad.^[12]

Through his attorney, Kenoi denied all charges and promised to fight them.^[3] Term limits prevent him from running for re-election, and his case is unlikely to come to court before the late-2016 end of his term.

References

External links

• Official website
• Mayoral website