Hawaii Has Been Named the ‘Most Corrupt State’ in America
In a recent evaluation conducted by the Institute for Corruption Studies at Illinois State University, Hawaii, known as the Aloha State, has once again claimed the rather unwelcome title of the most corrupt in the United States.
At the forefront of this unsettling distinction is Honolulu, Hawaii’s state capital, which stands out with the highest percentage of public corruption convictions per capita, as revealed in the comprehensive report covering the years 1976 to 2024. Other major cities like Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago also find their place on this regrettable list….
fostering a culture where loyalty, partiality, and personal connections often take precedence over honesty, transparency, and responsibility…heavily reliant on tourism and military spending, Hawaii becomes susceptible to external influences. Foreign investors, lobbyists, and contractors exploit the state’s resources by collaborating with local politicians and officials who accept bribes, kickbacks, and campaign contributions in exchange for support and influence….
The dominance of the Democratic Party in Hawaii’s state legislature since 1954 has resulted in a lack of political diversity, reducing checks and balances and enabling power abuse….
Major corruption instances, including the Bishop Estate scandal, problems with the Honolulu rail project, and the Kealoha Scandal, vividly highlight corruption’s pervasive nature across all levels of Hawaii’s government.
Hawaii Has Been Named the Most Corrupt State in America!
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In a recent evaluation conducted by the Institute for Corruption Studies at Illinois State University, Hawaii, known as the Aloha State, has once again claimed the rather unwelcome title of the most corrupt city in the United States.
At the forefront of this unsettling distinction is Honolulu, Hawaii’s largest state capital, which stands out with the highest percentage of public corruption convictions per capita, as revealed in the comprehensive report covering the years 1976 to 2024. Other major cities like Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago also find their place on this regrettable list.
he report’s author, economist Oguzhan Dincer, who also directs the Institute for Corruption Studies, identifies several factors contributing to Hawaii’s elevated corruption levels:
Historical Legacy: Hawaii’s history of colonization, annexation, and statehood has left a legacy of political and economic inequality, fostering a culture where loyalty, partiality, and personal connections often take precedence over honesty, transparency, and responsibility.
Geographic Vulnerability: Situated remotely and heavily reliant on tourism and military spending, Hawaii becomes susceptible to external influences. Foreign investors, lobbyists, and contractors exploit the state’s resources by collaborating with local politicians and officials who accept bribes, kickbacks, and campaign contributions in exchange for support and influence.
Institutional Weakness: The dominance of the Democratic Party in Hawaii’s state legislature since 1954 has resulted in a lack of political diversity, reducing checks and balances and enabling power abuse. The state’s underfunded legal system faces challenges in effectively prosecuting and penalizing corruption cases.
Illustrative Examples of Corruption in Hawaii
Corruption is pervasive across all branches and levels of government in Hawaii, as exemplified by notable instances:
Kealoha Scandal: The conviction of former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife Katherine in 2019 exposed a conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Their plot involved framing a relative for mailbox theft to conceal financial deception and theft. Several law enforcement officers and officials faced charges related to power abuse, record-keeping fraud, evidence tampering, lying to investigators, and civil rights violations.
Rail Project: Initiated in 2005 to alleviate traffic congestion, the Honolulu rail project encountered mismanagement, corruption, and cost overruns. Originally projected at $5.3 billion, the project’s cost skyrocketed to $12.4 billion due to continuous delays. Federal investigations and audits revealed fraud, waste, misuse, and conflicts of interest involving contractors, consultants, officials, and politicians.
Bishop Estate: Founded in 1887 as a private school system and trust, the Kamehameha Schools (formerly Bishop Estate) faced scandals involving alleged violations of fiduciary duties, self-dealing, nepotism, and fund mismanagement among its trustees. With assets exceeding $10 billion, the estate’s troubles underscore systemic corruption challenges in Hawaii.
Conclusion
Honolulu, Hawaii, emerges as the most corrupt city in the United States, according to the Institute for Corruption Studies. Economist Oguzhan Dincer’s analysis, spanning convictions for public corruption per capita from 1976 to 2024, attributes this designation to historical injustices, geographic susceptibility, and institutional flaws, notably the prolonged dominance of the Democratic Party. Major corruption instances, including the Bishop Estate scandal, problems with the Honolulu rail project, and the Kealoha Scandal, vividly highlight corruption’s pervasive nature across all levels of Hawaii’s government.
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EDITORS NOTE: This Hawaii Free Press column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.
IF YOU ALL OUT THERE HAVE NOT READ THIS – READ IT !!!!
Mr. Robert Manning – had a good point.
Robert Manning
The dominance of the DEMOCRATIC PARTY in Hawaii’s state legislature since 1954 has resulted in lack of political diversity, reducing checks and balances and enabling power abuse. The state’s underfunded legal system faces challenges in effectively prosecuting and penalizing corruption cases…….. this is just one paragraph in this fantastic article. This guy really tells it like it is…..read the part about the rail….unreal… the media has to know about these things but yet they fail to mention them. No wonder the feds have set up shop in this state and are here PERMANENTLY. I STRONGLY SUGGEST READING THIS ARTICLE…..
My Comment to Robert :
Mel Wildman
Robert Manning Yes he did a great job in the article, in fact – he does state the same things I have been stating to the PUBLIC all along….hmm wonder if he got it from Me ? lol – And further the motion of justice – here is a bit incurred , in 1954 they the illegal state tried to change the Hawaii Constitution, unfortunately they had to wait till 1959, When the President then Eisenhower, declared 50 stars on the flag for Hawai’i, when Congress DID NOT, even commit to Hawaii being a state. Thus, since then there has been NO CON CON since 1895 through 1959 and up till todays date 2024. Illegally they keep changing the Hawai’i Revised Statues to comply for State LAWS that are what I consider illegal , or null and void.
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol01_Ch0001-0042F/05-CONST/CONST%20.htm
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII
_______________
The Hawaii Constitution was framed by a Constitutional Convention under Act 334, Session Laws of Hawaii 1949. It was adopted by the people at the election held on November 7, 1950, and was deemed amended when three propositions submitted to the people in accordance with the Act of Congress approved March 18, 1959, 73 Stat 4, Public Law 86-3, were adopted by the people at the election held on June 27, 1959. As so amended, it was accepted, ratified, and confirmed by Congress by the Act of March 18, 1959. It went into effect on August 21, 1959, upon the issuance of a presidential proclamation admitting the state of Hawaii into the Union.
The Constitution has since been amended a number of times in accordance with proposals adopted by the legislature or by constitutional convention and ratified by the people. The source of these amendments is indicated in the source notes immediately following the text of the amended or new section.
Revision Note
On November 7, 1978, amendments to the Constitution proposed by the Constitutional Convention of 1978 were presented to the electorate for its approval. The Lieutenant Governor’s computer report showed that all of the proposed amendments passed by the necessary constitutional margin. However, the Supreme Court of Hawaii in Kahalekai v. Doi, 60 H. 324, 590 P.2d 543 (1979), held that a number of the proposed amendments were not validly ratified.
Continued from comment : NOTE : ” NOT VALID, OR RATIFIED ”. Means no con con since 1978 can allow changes to the HAWAII REVISED STATUES. After the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom of Queen Liliuokalani in 1895, there had been no con con to the Hawaii Constitution. IN 1978 , They tried to make an illegal con con , therefore , its invalid due to its ” whereas ” being illegally written.
The Hawaii Republican party was infiltrated and subverted by liberals years ago. You can’t fight something with nothing. Hawaii is now little more than a third world banana republic state.