Charges against electrical union leader detailed in notice to members
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
IBEW Local 1260 business manager Brian Ahakuelo speaks to reporters in Kakaako today.
The parent organization investigating the local electrical workers union said embattled business manager Brian Ahakuelo misused member dues for personal expenses unrelated to union business.
In a notice sent to members, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers listed a dozen allegations that range from travel expenses to Las Vegas, where Ahakuelo’s daughter and son-in-law reside, to using union assets to pay the legal fees to defend his son, Brandon, the union’s chief of staff, in a criminal case involving unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
Other expenses that were reimbursed by Local 1260 from 2014 to 2016 include airfare for seven members of Ahakuelo’s family not employed by the union to attend an IBEW celebration, and paying off a more than $24,000 bank loan for a truck initially owned by his wife, Marilyn, which was later transferred to the union, according to the letter signed by John O’Rourke, vice president of the international parent organization.
The IBEW also alleges that employees of Local 1260 were given company vehicles though they were not authorized to use them and that the Ahakuelo unilaterally changed personnel policies to personally benefit himself and his family.
Ahakuelo, at an impromptu news conference today at a Kakaako park, said he will not resign from his job, as he had announced two days earlier.
He said he has secured legal counsel and is also considering legal action against IBEW’s Washington, D.C.-based international union, which he said has made false allegations against him of financial mismanagement.
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“They turned it into falsehoods and allegations of misappropriation of moneys, of wrongdoing by myself, which is totally false,” Ahakuelo said. “It was a witch hunt on me because there was a concern that I was getting too popular.”
Ahakuelo said he has rescinded his 30-day notice of retirement and will run for vice president of the ninth district of the parent union.
Ahakuelo said the reason the international union is bringing false allegations against him is because it was “jealous” of him and “fearful” that he would run for vice president. He said the existing vice president, John O’Rourke, called for a “witch hunt.”
Ahakuelo, 55, was business manager and financial secretary for Local 1260, representing more than 3,200 electrical workers, including Hawaiian Electric Co. and TV station employees. He was placed on paid administrative leave Friday, along with 18 of his staff, pending an audit by the international union. IBEW named Harold Dias, a former state AFL-CIO president, trustee in the interim.
In recent years Ahakuelo was criticized by subordinates for his spending of union dues, including the hiring of four immediate family members.
Ahakuelo earned $201,712 in 2015, while his wife, Marilyn, director of community services for Local 1260, was paid $105,119, according to the union’s most recent financial report filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Their son, Brandon, the union’s chief of staff, received $143,274, while daughter-in-law Neiani, executive assistant, earned $77,656. Ahakuelo’s sister-in-law, Jennifer Estencion, senior executive assistant, had a salary of $101,855, the filing shows.
The international union said it placed Local 1260 in trusteeship “in order to investigate and correct financial issues that have arisen in the local.”
Ahakuelo subsequently announced his retirement on Tuesday before changing course this morning.
A hearing to decide how long the trusteeship will last is scheduled for May 23.
Notice of Hearing to IBEW Members by Honolulu Star-Advertiser
75 responses to “Charges against electrical union leader detailed in notice to members”
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How is any of this serving the best interests of the dues-paying membership? What a circus.
He doing the “….nah, nah, nah… just joking” stint. Like you said what a circus… Aren’t circus’ run by families too? You would think with all the commotion on nepotism… like at the charter school last year, etc… that someone at his level or in his position, would definitely avoid doing that even if there is no rule or policy stating that. Or is that a common practice amongst all the other unions too?
Harold Dias is an even bigger crook than this guy. He completely failed in his position with the international regarding the 1186 corruption and it’s current “leadership” and had to resign. Now they are putting him in charge? Just goes to show where the international’s head is.
I wouldn’t say that this guy is a crook… but maybe just shy of being ethically sound.
You are correct; crook was the wrong word to use. Questionable leadership and poor judgement may be better.
Meaning “swindler” is American English, 1879, from crooked in figurative sense of “dishonest.
Seems that crook would be the correct word to use.
looks like he eats out every night..dessert included
This guy must be following advice from Donald Trump.
Wrong… Bill’s wife, Hillary.
Bill took time off from Monica to call Hillary.
Or, Ted Cruz who said he may un-suspend his campaign.
Good one.
Huh? I thought Bill was with your wife?
Please provide solid facts as to support your comment. Otherwise, you’re like a sea gull.
The plot sickens
is this the new daytime series? “How to lie and keep your jobs” staring the KEALOHAS! OR “QUIT THEN CRY THEN RUN BACK OR NO MO MONEY” Maybe the Kealohas and the Ahakuelos can get together and form a super union!
Maybe better lock him out of the office to secure the evidence?
And then teach him how to tie a tie. Is he a teenager going to his first prom? That four-in-hand knot is just plain offensive.
No need learn how to tie a tie. Just look at his rings and wristwatch. Check out his pretty boy son too!
A noose would be more appropriate.
Only hurts the members, They have a chance to vote him out with the rest of them. Its on the members now.
So basically he and his family are secure
The question is, will he be counting the votes again?
Not if the DOL will be conducting the elections.
I quit, I’m not, I quit, I’m not!
BS artist….
You can’t make this stuff up.
If you’re gonna go down, might as well go down in flames!
hmmmmmm
How is hiring and paying family members huge salaries not “financial mismanagement”.
Since the moral compass is HAWAII
I would think the IBEW’s Board of Directors has the final decision on whether to accept Mr. Ahakuelo’s request to rescind his retirement. If they don’t have the authority on the final decision, it’s a big sham on how this organization functions! The hard working dues-paying members better wake up!
I agree. I don’t think you can simply recind a retirement or resignation and reinstert yourself as an employee.
Not sure what the union by-laws say but State employees have 30 days to withdraw retirement papers.
Thanks for the observation. I had no idea State employees had a 30 day recind period.
Maybe he thinks he’s Brett Favre
I’m thinking he is looking to re-establish employment status so that he can file a suit for improper termination.
IF I was an IBEW member, I would be petitioning to get him AND his family members removed.
If I was an IBEW member, I’d disconnect his electricity.
Thanks for these funnies, better than the late night show……..I’ll check back later this evening. Mahalo!
@Masami Den how is going to run the paper shredder?
Pay his nephew $1/page to shred……with IBEW funds.
As the Stomach Turns…stay tuned…grand jury indictment coming …
wow why so much family …is it for the workers?
What’s the story? Just a typical Union crook.
i changed my mind john……..
He looks happy in his photo. His lawyers probably paid with union dues and paid time away from his job to campaign for vice president and work on his lawsuit. Life is good when you are the king, except if the feds start an investigation.
Back in the old days this guy would end up like Jimmy Hoffa.
I heard he has end zone seats at the Meadowlands….
There’s going to be a big concrete pour for the fixed rail when they bury the electrical lines.
this is one way to get 15 mins of fame.
A mob organization trying a thief
And the saga continues!
I supposed his legal counsel advised (or others) suggested that by resigning, he looked guilty? Trouble is by staying in he looks guilty, of nepotism, if nothing else. How can the members tolerate employment of four family members working at very high salaries in key leadership positions. This does not look good, it does not look right. They all should resign, even if they have done nothing wrong. Are they all even electricians? Is this what PV has bought us?
Jealous or nepotism? Pretty obvious conflict when you hire your whole family with generous salaries. Can’t teach common sense
Let me guess. Union paid defense attorney versus paying out for one himself? Makes sick sense to me.
He should resign, then have his son or daughter hire him after one of them take his place.Talk about nepotism to the max.
He talked to Billy Keoni last night and decided to “stick to it and not let small stuff hold him back”.
This is why union dues are so high. The salaries are decent, but why to all one family. What are the “perks” – car allowances, entertainment account, trips, annual vacations to name a few. Why is the office located in a high price office tower down town? Union members, wake up and demand accountability – it is your hard earn money.
The former office was a two story building on Beretania St. It was also a money maker as they were collecting rent for office rentals to three other unions. They sold that building to now pay $20,000 a month lease at Topa Tower. The lease is till 2026. That’s almost a quarter of a million dollars in rent annually.
Classic case of NEPOTISIM….
This guy is a piece of work and even though this is Legal in a UNION, its a disgrace and happens way too much in Hawaii.
And people thought Chicago was bad Hawaii is probably worse since we only have Dems with NO ONE HELD ACCOUNTABILE !
If the international has no policies about hiring his whole family he is free to go….
I love the photos S-A chooses to use. The media does the same thing to Trump. In other words, they pick photos with a stupid look.
We are witnessing the final desperate explosion of a cornered skunk.
So much for the fluff story of it just being a routine audit, eh?
He is a real GOOD family man – His family must really love him.
LOL, must be in the same club as Mayor Billy Kenoi and former Bishop Museum Executive Director Blair Collis. But seriously, what I’m trying to come to grips with is, if you’re making $200,000 you’re doing quite well here in Hawaii so why cockroach more monies?
That nepotism thing going should just be banned entirely; don’t allow it, as that is just inviting trouble. This reminds me of that local charter school in Kaka’ako where the Principal was hiring all sorts of relatives in a similar manner. But that charter school situation was funnier in that they were paying for some sort of weird stuff. Then there’s that Hawaii Technology Academy head that used like $150K for his own personal expenses. It appears that in situations like these there is a complete lack of integrity.
Nothing to see here folks, just business as usual, move on. Oh, and deposit your union dues in the cash box at the door, and while you’re at it, go ahead and drop your democrat-for-president ballot in the ballot box which we have conveniently pre-marked for you.
You’re right! Same old thing, power corrupts, hiring his family does not pass the “sniff test” but he did it anyway and the fools on the Executive Board allowed it! Nothing is going to happen to him, he’ll still be able to collect his pension and laugh all the way to the bank!
Guarantee you braddah and family don’t buy that Vacations Hawaii packages to go to Vegas… They got 1st class tickets, limo picked up and driven to the Wynn, Venetian or Caesars, set up in a suite and gambled in the high limits salons. The rest of us “middle class” people did the downtown grind and he just laughed at us. I read the article on the first google search http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/07/27/48757.htm. Truth or lies.. wow!
Not sure if this Brian, Marilyn and Brandon are the same folks. You be the judge
http://hoohiki.courts.hawaii.gov/#/search
The nepotism reeks corruption. i don’t think anyone is “jealous” of him….the scene is incredibly narcissistic.
He sure looks like the brains behind that operation.
yeah, like pig brains and scrambled eggs
Another union official putting a spin on the charges against him….what a farce and crock…..we have the Big Island Mayor, the HPD Chief of Police, and now a union big shot all tainted with the suspicion of fraud and theft…this is Hawaii at its best……where is HAWAII 5-0…..Jack Lord would have eliminated all this corruption……BOOK EM ALL DAN-O!!!!
That’s our local union – sexist even when dishing out favors.