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Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi’s whirling "Aloha to Everyone" style of politics makes him a winner across Hawaii island, but in the big leagues, his county credit ethical lapses darken any political future for the gregarious Democrat.
How you use your credit card is popping up in national presidential politics as last week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio was forced to disclose two years of credit card charges he made on a Florida-GOP credit card issued to him in 2005-2006 for party expenses.
Rubio, the former Florida legislature’s speaker of the House, charged $182,072 on the card, with $22,000 deemed to be personal, including items such as family reunion expenses and fancy haircuts.
Rubio noted that he always paid the party back, although critics said it was usually late.
The disclosures came only after two years of Florida news media inquiries and only while Rubio’s presidential campaign was receiving more attention.
Compare that to the questions about Kenoi’s spending spree with government charge cards.
Although he has paid the county back for the improper charges, Kenoi’s payments with the card, called a pCard, shows a lifestyle both lavish and politically risky.
Kenoi spent $400 at the Camelot Restaurant and Lounge hostess bar and $892 at the Club Evergreen hostess bar in Honolulu. Kenoi also charged a $1,200 surfboard, his $565 Hawaii Bar Association dues and luxury stays at the Marriott Wai
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