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Former Congressional candidate released after arrest over airport permit violation

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    Kathryn Xian was among the candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressional District 1 who answered questions a forum held in June 2014. Lyft drivers Antonino Quito and Kathryn Xian, an activist who ran for U.S. Congress two years ago, were released pending further investigation after they were arrested Thursday for operating at Honolulu Airport without proper permits.

Two Lyft drivers were released pending further investigation after they were arrested Thursday for operating at Honolulu Airport without proper permits.

Antonino Quito and Kathryn Xian, an activist who ran for U.S. Congress two years ago, were arrested by investigators with the Department of the Attorney General.

The offense is considered a misdemeanor under Hawaii law with a maximum penalty of one year in jail.

The arrests were part of a state Department of Transportation investigation, according to attorney general’s spokesman Joshua Wisch.

“The arrests were made because of multiple complaints that were made regarding this kind of activity occurring at the airport, despite citations having been previously issued,” Wisch said in an email Friday.

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    • Does this new law mean we can’t use Lyft or Uber to go to the airport? This is against free enterprise and should be challenged in court. Fork the taxi companies and this system of pay to play by the State Legislature. This is MAFIA tactics.

      • This debacle is one of thousands of examples just how backwards and out of touch the Nei is. Afraid of change and competition, can’t meet standards, union workers strike out.

        And lets not forget, as part of the hearings and regulation process, we learned one of our female elected bureaucrats, tried to push having them use Jurassic taxi meters. Then when she was told about GPS and smart phones she could not believe it. Said it was “Voo doo evil.” Eventually she agreed it would be ok to use GPS. Wow.

        The ride sharing companies will be accessing the airport. Way too much public support for it. Sad to say our utterly dysfunctional elected bureaucrats keep trying to throw roadblocks to stop it. So sad.

      • Uber and Lyft are planning to do away with drivers at somepoint, focusing on self-driving cars, so they are putting people out of work. Uber is starting it’s self-driving program in Pittsburgh soon.

  • I find it funny that the first two arrests nets a semi high profile suspect. As much as I can’t stand the woman for a variety of reasons, I disagree with how things went down.

  • Arrested? Arrested? That was priority for HPD that day? No one better to arrest? Such a business friendly climate that Honolulu. Hawaii still living in the 80’s. We need to call a Taxi and pay extra for some operator lady to put us on hold and dispatch a car? Remember the Superferry! Hawaii is pau.

  • Lyft and Uber need to be regulated. All the airports that I have been to inn the U.S. and around the world allow only taxis or limousines with permits to operate to and from the airport. So why do Lyft and Uber feel they should be allowed to operate at a controlled state facility without the proper permitting?

    • Guessing you do not travel to real airports, just backwater little county ones.

      I can tell you San Diego Airport supports Lyft & Uber. They drop off at the curb, pick up in special designated areas. Not a problem.

      They meet all the requirements to operate at the airport. No special treatment.

    • I took Uber from Union Sq SF to SFO. $30 vs $50 plus for cab. Driver was an aspiring chef trying to make ends meet in a city more expensive than Honolulu.

  • Willing to bet the complaints against Lyft & Uber are coming from disgruntled, low class, union taxi drivers who just can’t handle the competition. Dirty cars, English is not their main language, take passengers on long rides versus direct route, they can’t stand competing against quality.

    This is not a real arrest type action. Just the union backed DOT trying to shakedown the ride sharing companies. Just like a gang protecting their turf. Really sad.

    Just another day in the little 8th world of Hawaii Nei.

    • Don’t believe Honolulu taxi drivers have applied to the NLRB to hold an election for union representation though a decision by the 9th Circuit in an Oakland CA case allows them to do so.

  • Actually, all of these types of services need to be monitored. As much as I don’t like the Taxi monopoly, this is a need, permits etc., to maintain a safe Airport.

  • Do you mean if I call a Lyft or Uber driver to pick me up at the airport or if if I call one to take me to the airport that Ithe driver cannot go to the airport? Taxis can compete and charge the same or lower prices– I have seen it when uber for example has surge pricing. But the re are now cab companies that have hailing or scheduling over the Internet and charge to credit cards– why don’t the taxi companies do this?

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