Please ignore the pleas for Hee

Please ignore the pleas for Hee

The long list of letter writers pleading for a lighter sentence for telecommunications executive and tax cheat Al Hee shows just how politically connected he is.

And while the letters from former Public Utilities Commissioner Mina Morita, business execs and politicians paint a picture of a caring, generous man, it doesn’t mean he deserves a break.

Prosecutors said Hee skimmed some $4 million from Waimana Enterprises, a holding company for Sandwich Isles Communications, which received more than $242 million from federal ratepayer subsidies. They say Waimana paid for personal expenses such as Hee’s family vacations to exotic locales, jewelry and salaries for relatives who didn’t really work for the company.

Hee was convicted of tax fraud and faces up to 51 months in prison. His connections shouldn’t come into play at his Dec. 15 sentencing.

Rolovich starts placing his pieces

It was good to see new University of Hawaii football coach Nick Rolovich retaining Chris Naeole and Abraham Elimimian as his first two hires.

Time will test the abilities and success of the new squad, of course. But at this stage, it was easy to root for Naeole, in particular, who had the unenviable task of keeping the 2015 team together after Norm Chow was fired Nov. 1 as head coach.

Naole and the team were finally rewarded with a win in the season finale. But that’s the old season and already old news. Eyes forward, to rounding out the coaching staff and those all-important recruits.