The Attorney General’s Office has opened an inquiry after receiving complaints about the possible misuse of funds by an Ewa Beach youth football league run by a member of the Ewa Neighborhood Board.

Hugh Jones, administrator of the state Tax and Charities Division, said a request was sent to the Ewa Beach Crush Youth Football League for information. He would not say when the request was sent because the matter is ongoing, but he said the Crush has not responded.

"We hope to review their documents as rapidly as time permits," he said on Friday.

Lola Tripp, president of the Crush, could not be reached for comment, but left a voicemail with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, referring comments to her attorney, who was not identified. Ernest Hartsell, vice chairman of the Ewa Neighborhood Board, confirmed Tripp is still a board member.

Makakilo resident Melanie Akeo, whose 9-year-old son played for the Crush’s younger flag football team last year, said parents began questioning why the nonprofit appeared short of cash after several fundraisers.

The Crush, a member of the Islands Youth Football League, has tackle football, flag football and cheerleading teams.

Akeo, 34, estimated parents raised at least $20,000 in 2013 through car washes, McDonald’s fundraisers, and concession stands selling food that parents donated.

Akeo, the "team mom" of the Termites flag football team, said the players went from all expenses paid in 2011 to "nothing" in 2013.

When parents from the two flag football teams wanted answers, Akeo arranged a meeting with Tripp at the Ewa Beach Community Park in November.

Instead of answering questions, Tripp responded angrily and swore at the parents at the meeting, Akeo said. Tripp told the parents that there was no money — even her phone was turned off — and that the group’s finances were none of their business, Akeo said.

"We were kind of shocked that she acted in such a manner," Akeo said. "She went off the handle."

In December, the Crush’s two flag football teams were notified that they were no longer invited to the annual end-of-season banquet in December with the tackle teams.

Besides being disinvited, the flag football teams didn’t get their trophies, which are paid for by the $200 registration fee, until April (Akeo said tackle football registration was $300).

Akeo was never told why her team was disinvited, but she suspects it was in retaliation for questioning the organization’s finances.

Not much is known about Tripp through court documents, but one document shows a complaint filed against her in August 2013 for an unpaid debt of $883.

Akeo hired an attorney, who notified the Attorney General’s Office about the matter in December.

"I’m just trying to save the kids," Akeo said. She added that she also wants to alert other unknowing parents about the organization.

Another Islands Youth Football League team president, however, said parents sometimes don’t realize how much it costs to run a league and that costs are going up.

Stephen Wong, president of the Wahiawa Thunderbolts, said it costs about $350 per tackle player to cover referees, personal and field equipment, and insurance.

Another cost was added in 2013 when a new rule began requiring helmets be recertified every year and replaced every five, he said.

Wong, who has been with the Thunderbolts for 10 years, said he collects $275 for registration and raises the rest in fundraisers because he doesn’t want to make it too expensive for a child to play.

But he understands that parents may have questions about finances, and his group willingly produces the paperwork.

"They are more than right to ask about it," he said. "To me, it is their business because they’re paying registration fees."