Hawaiʻi LG Sylvia Luke needed bailout from governor, documents show

The situation appears to be highly unusual. While some departments have required an infusion of cash at the last minute to cover emergencies, Salaveria said he couldn’t think of a time it was to cover staff raises.

“I can’t recall anything at this time,” he said.

In her statement, Luke expressed regret. 

“As I have said before, I hold myself to a higher standard than this,” she said. “This was a lesson for our office and going forward, I will continue working within the administration to move important initiatives forward within the parameters imposed by revenue forecasts.” 

Beth Giesting, director emeritus of the nonprofit Hawaiʻi Budget & Policy Center, said she’s skeptical.

“I think it was a learning opportunity for her to find out there is probably going be more transparency about issues like this than some of the stuff that happened within the walls of her office on the Finance Committee,” Giesting said.

After the new fiscal year began, Civil Beat’s editorial board on July 5 asked Luke how it all worked out—days after Green approved the bailout. 

Luke indicated the situation was resolved but did not mention Green had stepped in. 

“Right now we’re still reconciling, but we should be fine,” she said. 

Luke’s budget for the new fiscal year is $2.3 million—more than double her office’s allotment for the previous fiscal year. But Luke told the editorial board she and Green have agreed she won’t spend it all. The reason, she said, is “we are asking all the departments to be frugal and prudent.”