HAWAI`I LAND BUREAU UNDER INVESTIGATION - AGAIN
Hawaiians Victim Of Agency Supposed To Protect Them
Associated Press June 21, 2007
HONOLULU — Lawmakers opened an investigation into Hawai`i's troubled land bureau amid accusations that it fails to protect property records, shows favoritism and is poorly run.
"We want an effective and functioning Bureau of Conveyances, and that's not what we have now," Sen. Jill Tokuda, D-Kane`ohe-Kailua, chairwoman of the investigative committee said on Wednesday.
"There have been long-standing problems. This is not a new situation.
The probe into the bureau stems from evidence from this spring's Senate hearings that led to the ouster of former Department of Land and Natural Resources chairman Peter Young.
DLNR oversees the Bureau of Conveyances, and senators said its mismanagement reflected poorly on Young.
Two other investigations into the bureau are already ongoing - the attorney general is looking at potential breaches of computer security, and the state Ethics Commission is evaluating the propriety of gifts given to bureau employees.
Allegations surrounding the Bureau of Conveyances also include claims that a private title company was allowed to have a computer operating at the bureau and that documents may have been tampered with.
