A Hawaii County ethics complaint filed against Mayor Billy Kenoi and Finance Director Deanna Sako over Kenoi’s use of his county-issued purchasing card will be handled by the Maui County Corporation Counsel’s Office "to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest," Hawaii County Corporation Counsel Molly A. Stebbins said Wednesday.

"Our office has sought assistance from the Maui Office of the Corporation Counsel in previous ethics cases involving a conflict of interest," Stebbins said in a statement.

Kenoi has come under fire for using his "pCard" to pay for everything from an $892 tab at an Oahu hostess bar, $565 for his Hawaii Bar Association dues, a $1,200 surfboard and a $1,900 bicycle — reimbursing Hawaii County $26,000 for personal and government-related purchases.

The ethics complaint was made by Hawaii island resident Lanric Hyland, calling for both Kenoi and Sako to be removed from office.

Hawaii County’s code of ethics has a fair-treatment provision — similar to the state’s — that says workers cannot use their positions to secure or grant unwarranted privileges or advantages for themselves or others.

In an ethics probe, investigators do not have to address intent to defraud, which is the standard that prosecutors must prove in a criminal theft case.

Under the state ethics code, questions about potential ethics violations may be raised if a state worker uses a pCard inconsistent with the policies governing the program, according to Les Kondo, executive director of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission.

Meanwhile, Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth — an elected official who is part of Kenoi’s Cabinet — has asked state Attorney General Doug Chin to consider launching a criminal probe of Kenoi’s use of his pCard, which has since been cut up.

"We have received the request and we are considering it," said Chin’s spokeswoman, Anne Lopez.

Although Kenoi’s pCard has been destroyed, Hawaii County spokesman Peter Boylan said Kenoi can still use the account to book county-related travel arrangements.

Otherwise, Kenoi must pay for any other expenses out of pocket and later seek county reimbursement, Boylan said.

Staff writer Rob Perez contributed to this report.