Doug Chin’s easy style and relaxed laugh contradict the fact that, as the state’s chief law enforcement officer readily explains, he is "comfortable with enforcement actions."

In a recent interview, Hawaii’s new 49-year-old attorney general describes himself as a prosecutor.

"I tell people that being a prosecutor is my heritage," Chin, who was raised by Chinese immigrant parents in Seattle, said in an interview.

Chin worked in the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, going from traffic court to trying murder and sex- assault cases. Former Prosecutor Peter Carlisle made Chin first deputy, and when Carlisle became mayor, Chin was appointed Honolulu managing director. Later, he was the managing partner for Carlsmith Ball, Hawaii’s oldest law firm.

Now in his first year as AG, with Gov. David Ige’s blessing, Chin already has a set of priorities.

"Unquestionably I have reached out to the Campaign Spending Commission, I have also reached out to the Ethics Commission and the Office of Consumer Protection," Chin said.

Chin told the offices, "We want to be here for you, whatever cases you have that you think we ought to take a look at or investigate, we want to offer our resources."

So far that has meant an AG criminal investigation into the spending practices of Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi, the misdemeanor conviction of a state representative for improperly filing a campaign spending report, and a lawsuit detailing alleged politically connected lobbyists using "inappropriate political influence" in the previous Democratic administration.

The lawsuit filed against Ciber, Inc., a software company doing nearly $14 million in business with the state’s Transportation Department, is noteworthy because it mentions John Radcliffe, one of the state’s most influential lobbyists, who helped raise funds and influenced policy for the Neil Abercrombie administration. Also mentioned is Bruce Coppa, Abercrombie’s former chief of staff, who after Abercrombie’s defeat joined Radcliffe’s lobbying firm, Capitol Consultants. Neither Coppa nor Radcliffe are named as defendants in the legal action.

Chin explained that in the case of investigating Kenoi using county-issued credit cards for nights at Honolulu hostess bars, it started as an offer to help the Hilo prosecutors with legal expertise.

As the question of conflict of interest arose, the AG just took over the investigation. It is still not clear what will become of the AG’s probe, but Chin described it as "an active investigation."

"I can’t tell you when or if we are going to come forward with any charges, but we are looking at it."

Asked if he would take it to a grand jury, Chin said, "I don’t think we have made that decision yet."

"Sitting here right now, I could see the value of taking it before a grand jury to get that kind of community validation, but I can’t commit either way," Chin said, stressing that no decision regarding the entire case has been made.

Chin’s final big ongoing case is in conjunction with the Campaign Spending Commission. Already, state Rep. James Tokioka, a Kauai Democrat, entered a plea agreement in state court for "Failure to file a complete and accurate candidate committee report."

In the past, forgetful or sloppy bookkeeping netted fines from the commission, but hardly ever were cases turned over for criminal prosecution.

Chin said he hopes enforcement will lead to public trust.

Chin wants to increase both trust in government and to have people "more inclined to be involved in the process and more willing to speak up about something they think is not being properly done."

Enforcing state laws all the way to criminal prosecution would show a new definition for Hawaii’s well-known political indifference.

Resisting the entrenched powers would mean taking off the "Ainokea" bumper stickers and replacing them with something saying, "Follow the rules, because I don’t care who you are."

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.