Campaign Spending Commission

CSC Newsletter – July 2024, Vol. 30, No. 2

WRAP-UP OF THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

For the 2024 legislative session, the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission (Commission) submitted 5 bills to the legislature. Unfortunately, none of these bills passed. Specifically, they were a bill that (1) increased the partial public funding program and established two full-time positions in the Commission; (2) extended the pay-to-play state and county government contractor ban to grants-in-aid recipients as well as officers and immediate family members of the government contractor/grantee; (3) prohibited candidates from using campaign funds to purchase up to two tickets for another candidate or committee’s fundraiser; (4) prohibited elected officials from accepting and soliciting contributions during legislative session; and (5) escheated any excess cash contribution over $100 to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. The Commission will continue its efforts to advocate for these bills in the future.

Two bills that passed this session that were not Commission bills, but the Commission supported because they will increase transparency and accountability in campaign finance are:

1 – DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS RELATING TO DISASTERS: Effective May 3, 2024, candidate and noncandidate committees are prohibited from soliciting contributions that refer to a disaster that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the contribution would be used to benefit persons directly affected by the disaster unless the solicitation contains an explicit disclosure that: (1) it is subject to the campaign finance laws; (2) it may be used to influence a candidate’s election to office or the outcome of a ballot issue; and (3) persons affected by the disaster may not necessarily benefit from the contribution. A violation of this statute is a class C felony. (Act 16, SLH 2024)

2 – REGULATING MATERIALLY DECEPTIVE MEDIA – DEEP FAKES: Effective July 3, 2024, a person is prohibited from recklessly distributing, or entering into an agreement to distribute, between the first working day in February to the general election in an even-numbered year, “materially deceptive media” in reckless disregard of the risk of harming the reputation or electoral prospects of a candidate or changing the voting behavior of voters in an election, unless the media contains a disclaimer that: (1) the media has been manipulated by technical means; and (2) depicts appearance, speech, or conduct that did not occur. Notably, the disclaimers must appear throughout the entirety of the video (or at the beginning and end of the audio), be clearly visible and readable, be in letters at least as large as the largest size of any text communication, be in the same language used in the media, & be in a pitch that can be easily heard. This includes political advertising so a disclaimer is required (i.e., person who paid for the advertisement, address, done with or without support from the candidate).

“Materially deceptive media” means any information, including video, image, or audio, that: (1) is an advertisement (disclaimer laws); (2) depicts an individual engaging in speech or conduct which the individual did not in fact engage; (3) would cause a reasonable viewer/listener to believe the speech or conduct; and (4) was created by: (a) generative adversarial network techniques; (b) artificial intelligence; or (c) digital technology.

Provides for a private cause of action for general or special damages for falsely depicted individuals. A violation of this statute ranges from a petty misdemeanor to a Class C felony as well as civil remedies. (Act 191, SLH 2024)

REPORTING SCHEDULES

Reporting schedules have been posted on our website and are provided via the link below for your convenience to track upcoming reporting deadlines. The reporting schedules are also available in the Commission’s downloadable calendar and can be downloaded to your digital calendar on your computer or mobile device.

The Commission will add the necessary reports to your reporting schedule in your respective electronic filing system (CFS and NCFS). These reports must be electronically filed no later than 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian standard time on the day of the deadline. You may also want to consider filing the reports early to avoid penalties because the reporting deadline is always a few days or weeks after the reporting period has closed.

Your reporting schedule will depend on which of the three (3) options below your committee falls under or qualifies for. Please be sure to select the appropriate option.

OPTION 1: If you are a candidate committee NOT running in the 2024 election, you will be required to file these reports no later than 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian standard time on the following dates:

Supplemental Report covering the period January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024 (due on July 31, 2024); and
Supplemental Report covering the period July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 (due on January 31, 2025).

Failure to file these reports by the deadline will result in a fine and the posting of your committee’s name on the Commission website under “Candidate Committees That Failed to File or Correct a Report”. Moreover, if a fine is assessed against your committee and you fail to timely pay it, Commission staff will issue a complaint against your committee and set it for consideration at the next public Commission meeting. Therefore, we encourage all committees to timely file their reports and pay any fines.

Lastly, please remember that when you electronically file your reports with the Commission, candidates and treasurers are certifying that the information contained in the filed reports are true, complete, and accurate. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you verify and validate your reports before you file them since the Commission will rely on the electronically filed information which could generate an inquiry/investigation if inaccurate.

OPTION 2: If you are a candidate committee running in the 2024 election, unless you have declared by the July 1, 2024 deadline that you do not intend to receive or spend more than $1,000 in the 2024 election (see next article for more information), the number of PRIMARY ELECTION reports you will be required to file will depend on whether you file nomination papers before or after April 25, 2024 and if you will be on the Primary Election ballot. If you file nomination papers by April 25, 2024 and you will be on the Primary Election ballot, at a minimum, you will be required to file these reports no later than 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian standard time on the following dates:

1A Preliminary Primary Report covering the period January 1, 2024 to April 25, 2024 (due on April 30, 2024);
1B Preliminary Primary Report covering the period April 26, 2024 to June 30, 2024 (due on July 11, 2024);
2^nd Preliminary Primary Report covering the period July 1, 2024 to July 26, 2024 (due on July 31, 2024); and
Final Primary Report covering the period July 27, 2024 to August 10, 2024 (due on August 30, 2024).

If you file nomination papers after April 25, 2024 and you will be on the Primary Election ballot, at a minimum, you will be required to file these reports no later than 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian standard time on the following dates:

1B Preliminary Primary Report covering the period January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024 (due on July 11, 2024);
2^nd Preliminary Primary Report covering the period July 1, 2024 to July 26, 2024 (due on July 31, 2024); and
Final Primary Report covering the period July 27, 2024 to August 10, 2024 (due on August 30, 2024).

With respect to the GENERAL ELECTION reports, unless you have declared by the July 1, 2024 deadline that you do not intend to receive or spend more than $1,000 in the 2024 election (see next article for more information), all candidates running in the 2024 election and on the General Election ballot will be required to file, at a minimum, these reports no later than 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian standard time on the following dates:

1^st Preliminary General Report covering the period August 11, 2024 to September 26, 2024 (or January 1, 2024 to September 26, 2024 for candidates whose names did not appear on the Primary Election ballot, but will appear on the General Election ballot) (due on October 1, 2024);
2^nd Preliminary General Report covering the period September 27, 2024 to October 21, 2024 (due on October 28, 2024); and
Final Election Period Report covering the period October 22, 2024 to November 5, 2024 (due on December 5, 2024 unless you will be sworn in prior to this date – i.e., for Hawaii County and Kauai County elected candidates, the due date is November 27, 2024 (*NOTE: This is the only required report you need to file if you have declared to be $1,000 or less. If so, then your reporting period is from January 1, 2024 to November 5, 2024. Candidates that ran in the 2024 election and won outright or were unsuccessful in the Primary Election will file the Final Election Period Report for the period August 11, 2024 to November 5, 2024. See next article for more information.)

OPTION 3: If you are a noncandidate committee, for the 2024 election, unless you have declared by the July 26, 2024 deadline that you do not intend to receive or spend more than $1,000 in the 2024 election (see next article for more information), you will be required to file, at a minimum, these reports no later than 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian standard time on the following dates:

Preliminary Primary Report covering the period January 1, 2024 to July 26, 2024 (due on July 31, 2024);
Final Primary Report covering the period July 27, 2024 to August 10, 2024 (due on August 30, 2024);
1^st Preliminary General Report covering the period August 11, 2024 to September 26, 2024 (due on October 1, 2024);
2^nd Preliminary General Report covering the period September 27, 2024 to October 21, 2024 (due on October 28, 2024); and
Final Election Period Report covering the period October 22, 2024 to November 5, 2024 (due on December 5, 2024). (*NOTE: This is the only required report you need to file if you have declared to be $1,000 or less. If so, then your reporting period is from January 1, 2024 to November 5, 2024. See next article for more information.)

Failure to file these reports by the deadline will result in a fine and the posting of your committee’s name on the Commission’s website under “Noncandidate Committees That Failed to File or Correct a Report.” Moreover, if a fine is assessed against your committee and you fail to timely pay it, Commission staff will issue a complaint against your committee and set it for consideration at the next public Commission meeting. Therefore, we encourage all committees to timely file their reports and pay any fines.

Lastly, please remember that when you electronically file your reports with the Commission, chairpersons and treasurers are certifying that the information contained in the filed reports are true, complete, and accurate. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you verify and validate your reports before you file them since the Commission will rely on the electronically filed information which could generate an inquiry/investigation if inaccurate.

$1,000 OR LESS AGGREGATE CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE 2024 ELECTION

If you are a candidate committee whose aggregate contributions and aggregate expenditures for the 2024 election period will total $1,000 or less, you are required by July 1, 2024 to check off the box on your Organizational Report and file the report to notify the Commission of this intention. See, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) §11-339(b).

If you are a noncandidate committee whose aggregate contributions and aggregate expenditures for the 2024 election period will total $1,000 or less, you are required by July 26, 2024 to check off the box on your Organizational Report and file the report to notify the Commission of this intention. See, HRS §11-339(c).

In doing so, you will need only electronically file the Final Election Period Report due no later than 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian standard time on December 5, 2024, or earlier on November 27, 2024 if you are an elected Hawaii County or Kauai County candidate, and subsequent Supplemental Reports after the election if you do not terminate your committee registration with the Commission. If you exceed the $1,000 limit, you will then be required to notify the Commission and electronically file all the other required reports from the period in which the $1,000 limit was exceeded. See, HRS §11-339(a).

NEW NONCANDIDATE COMMITTEE REQUIREMENTS

If you are a noncandidate committee, please be aware of the additional requirements that may impact you in the 2024 election. As noted, some of these new requirements also extend to candidate committees.

DARK MONEY: Noncandidate committees who are 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations must receive written consent and provide written notice to donors that their name and address will be reported to the Commission if they make a donation individually or in an aggregate of more than $10,000 and permit that donation to be used for electioneering communications, independent expenditures, or political contributions.

If the donor fails to provide written consent that the donation may be used for electioneering communications, independent expenditures, or contributions, the nonprofit organization shall, within thirty days of receipt of the donation, transmit to the donor a written confirmation by the nonprofit organization’s highest ranking official that the donation will not be used for electioneering communications, independent expenditures, or contributions; and the name and address of the donor will not be reported to the Commission by the nonprofit organization.

ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS: A Statement of Information for Electioneering Communications form must be filed within 24 hours of an electioneering communication of more than $2,000 is mailed, published, and/or distributed within 30 days of the primary election (i.e., July 11, 2024 to August 10, 2024) and/or 60 days of the general election (i.e., September 6, 2024 to November 5, 2024). Once the $2,000 threshold is reached, noncandidate committees must continue to file all subsequent electioneering communication forms regardless of the amount. For mailers, the disclosure date means the date the mailers are first mailed.

An electioneering communication means any advertisement that is broadcast from a cable, satellite, television, or radio broadcast station; published in any periodical or newspaper or by electronic means; or sent by mail, and that: (1) Refers to a clearly identifiable candidate; (2) Is made, or scheduled to be made, either within 30 days prior to a primary or initial special election or within 60 days prior to a general or special election; and (3) Is not susceptible to any reasonable interpretation other than as an appeal to vote for or against a specific candidate.

The Statement of Information is available on the Commission’s website and it must contain information set forth in HRS §11-341 and HRS §11-393. It can be submitted by eSign or by printing and signing a writeable/printable PDF. Persons who fail to submit this form timely will be in violation of the campaign finance laws. Notably, the Statement of Information must be filed in addition to the filing of any other required report.

FUNDRAISER NOTICES: All candidate and noncandidate committees must file their fundraiser notices regardless of the price or suggested contribution for attending the function. The person in charge of the fundraiser must file the notice with the Commission prior to the fundraiser.
PUBLICATION OF COMMITTEE NAMES FOR COMMITTEE REGISTRATION VIOLATIONS: All candidate and noncandidate committees who fail to register with the Commission or correct their organizational report after being notified will have their name published on the Commission’s website until they comply.
LOWER THRESHOLD FOR NONCANDIDATE COMMITTEES TO REGISTER WITH THE COMMISSION: Any organization, association, party, or individual that receives contributions or makes expenditures of more than $500 (used to be $1,000), in the aggregate, in a 2-year election period, must register with the Commission by filing an Organizational Report within 10 days of receiving contributions or making expenditures of more than $500, or within two days if the $500 threshold is exceeded with thirty days before an election. As set forth above, failure to do so will mean that your name will be published on the Commission’s website until you comply and a fine may be assessed via a Commission complaint heard at a public Sunshine meeting.
CASH CONTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: All candidate and noncandidate committees shall limit to $100 the total amount of cash they may accept from a single person during each election period.
LOBBYIST CONTRIBUTIONS PROHIBITED DURING SESSION: Lobbyists who are actively registered with a State or county ethics board or commission are prohibited from contributing to an elected official, candidate, candidate committee, noncandidate committee, or any other individual required to file an Organizational Report with the Commission, or making an expenditure on behalf of these persons, during any regular or special session of the legislature, and for 5 calendar days before and after a session. Any prohibited contribution shall escheat to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund.
INCREASED FINES FOR NONCANDIDATE COMMITTEE VIOLATIONS – ORGANIZATIONAL REPORTS AND ADVERTISEMENTS: A noncandidate committee who: (1) fails to comply with Organizational Report requirements is subject to a minimum fine of $1,000 per violation; (2) fails to have the proper advertisement disclaimer is subject to a fine of no less than $150 for each advertisement; and (3) fails to identify the top 3 contributors to advertisements paid by Super PACS is subject to a fine of $1,000 per violation.
INCREASED FINES FOR SUPER PAC VIOLATIONS: The fine for noncandidate committees making only independent expenditures (Super PACs) that have received at least one contribution of more than $10,000, or spent more than $10,000 in an election period, is increased to an amount not to exceed $5,000 for each occurrence or an amount not to exceed three times the amount of the unlawful contribution or expenditure for a campaign finance violation. Further, if the noncandidate committee cannot pay, the Commission may order that the fine be paid from the personal funds of the candidate or officers of the noncandidate committee (i.e., chairperson and/or treasurer).

CONSIDERATIONS IF YOU ARE A CANDIDATE RUNNING IN THE 2024 ELECTION

We offer the following reminders and tips to candidates and their committees who are running for election or reelection in 2024. This is not a conclusive list so for more information please call us at (808) 586-0285, stop by our office at 235 S. Beretania Street, Room 300, or visit our website.

If you are a new candidate, consider downloading, printing, and reading our newly revised committee guidebooks, manuals, and reporting schedules as well as viewing our cyber-learning videos on the Commission’s website.
Make sure you have advertisement disclaimers (i.e., name and address of person paying for the advertisement) on your signs and banners. The disclaimer is not required on “sundry items” such as clothing, bumper stickers, pins, buttons, and similar small items upon which the disclaimer cannot be conveniently printed. Failure to have the disclaimer will result in mandatory fines pursuant to HRS §11-391(b).
Review and update all information on your Organizational Report – oftentimes, phone numbers and addresses have changed. Pursuant to HRS §§11-322(b) and 11-323(b), any change in information previously reported in the organizational report must be electronically filed with the commission within 10 days of the change being brought to the attention of the committee chairperson or treasurer. Failure to do so may result in a fine as well as prevent the Commission from communicating with you as well as a new statutory mandate requiring the Commission to post the candidate, candidate committee, and noncandidate committee’s name on its website if the report is not corrected within 2 weeks after the Commission provides you with a notice to correct.
If your name requested to be printed on the ballot is different than your legal name, the Office of Elections and the Commission will include your legal name wherever the name requested to be printed on the ballot is used.
If your committee is opening a bank account, it is advisable that you contact the bank prior to opening your committee’s bank account. Banks will vary on their requirements. If your bank requires an Organizational Report, you may want to consider inputting the bank’s information, typing in “pending” for the bank account number, filing the report with the Commission, and printing a copy to submit to the bank for verification that you are registered with the Commission as a candidate committee. Of course, once you obtain your bank account number, you will need to amend your Organizational Report and replace “pending” with the actual bank account number to comply with the law.
Consider doing some campaign research of past elections or of opponent data by using the Commission’s data visualization tool.
Take a look at the 2024 expenditure limits and maximum available public funding amounts to see if participating in the voluntary partial public funding program is a viable option for your campaign. If so, then you must have filed the Affidavit to voluntarily agree to the expenditure limit for the office you are seeking in 2024 by the date you filed your nomination papers and the Statement of Intent to start collecting qualifying campaign contributions to be matched with public funds.
If you plan on having a fundraiser, regardless of the amount of the ticket, remember to file a Notice of Intent to Hold a Fundraiser with the Commission prior to the fundraiser’s start time and before the Commission’s office closes for the day at 4:30 p.m., Hawaiian standard time. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in a fine.
If you use campaign funds to purchase 2 tickets to a fundraiser for another candidate, remember to keep the tickets for your records. Likewise, if another candidate is using campaign funds to purchase 2 tickets to your fundraiser, you must provide tickets for their records.
If your committee is using a debit card, keep detailed records that will allow you to timely and accurately report all expenditures on the committee’s disclosure reports including what the campaign funds were used for.
If your committee would like to make charitable donations or award scholarships to full-time students attending an institution of higher learning or vocational education school, now is a good time before you file nomination papers or by the nomination paper deadline, to make these expenditures as long as you do not exceed two times your contribution limit (i.e., $2,000, $4,000, or $6,000). Further, you are subject to a prohibited period as follows:
- From the date a candidate files nomination papers to the date of the general election on November 5, 2024, candidate committees are prohibited from making charitable donations with campaign funds unless you are declared duly and legally elected to the office prior to the general election or are unsuccessful in the primary or special primary election.
- From the nomination paper deadline on June 4, 2024 to the general election on November 5, 2024, candidate committees are prohibited from using campaign funds to award scholarships to full-time students attending an institution of higher learning or a vocational education school unless you are declared duly and legally elected to the office prior to the general election or are unsuccessful in the primary or special primary election.

The Commission has been aware of candidate committees’ donations to charitable/community or non-profit organizations being reported as advertising that is directly related to the candidate’s campaign under HRS §11-381(a)(1). In these instances, the candidate committee is characterizing its donation as advertising because the candidate committee is being recognized as a sponsor in the charitable/community or non-profit organization’s program or acknowledgment materials. Given these circumstances, the Commission is likely to inquire further since HRS §11-381(a)(3) has amount and time limitations for donations to charitable or community organizations, while advertising directly related to a candidate’s campaign provision (i.e., HRS §11-381(a)(1)) has no limitations. Generally, if the nonprofit organization reports the expenditure by the candidate committee as a tax-exempt donation to the IRS or records the expenditure as a gift on its books, the Commission will treat the expenditure likewise, and thus, the statutory amount and time limitations will apply. However, if the nonprofit organization reports the expenditure as income to the IRS, or otherwise treats the expenditure as income on its books, the Commission will consider whether the expenditure is permissible as being directly related to the candidate’s campaign. If the person soliciting the expenditure does not know if the organization will be treating the expenditure as a donation or income, the Commission advises that the candidate committee not make the payment to the nonprofit organization from campaign funds. Of course, a candidate is always allowed to make an expenditure to these organizations from personal funds.

If a Super PAC approaches your candidate committee, it is important to remember that its support of your nomination or election to office must be “independent” and that you and your agents such as committee officers are not “coordinating” campaign activities with them. If either of these circumstances occur, then the spending done by the Super PAC on your behalf will be deemed to be a contribution to your campaign subject to your contribution limit and the Super PAC will lose its status as a Super PAC, and thus, may subject them to the $1,000 per election contribution limit of noncandidate committees.
A Super PAC’s use of your campaign material, without your knowledge or consent, in the Super PAC’s “independent” advertising on your behalf, will be considered a contribution to your campaign. This will likely result in an excess contribution on the part of the Super PAC for which a fine will be assessed by the Commission against the Super PAC.
Be aware that expenditures or any other “coordinated activity” made by any person including an individual, party, corporation, business entity or labor union for the benefit of a candidate in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, candidate committee, or their agents, shall be considered to be a contribution to the candidate and expenditure by the candidate.

If you need assistance and the Commission’s office is unavailable or closed, please visit our website to review the various tools available (i.e., cyber videos, guidebooks, and manuals) that will assist you, answer any questions, and/or help you to file reports in the electronic filing system.

STANDARD FINE GUIDELINES

The Commission has adopted a Schedule of Fines pursuant to Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) §3-160-73(a). At the Commission’s meeting on November 8, 2023, an updated fine schedule was adopted as a result of the new laws that went into effect. You can find the schedule on the Commission’s website under “Legal Resources.”

VIOLATIONS OF THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS

The following candidate committees violated the Hawaii campaign finance laws and have failed to comply with the Commission’s orders by refusing to file required disclosure reports and/or pay assessed fines. Pursuant to HRS §11-410(d), the Commission has been pursuing enforcement actions with the assistance from the Attorney General’s Office – Civil Recoveries Division. Furthermore, pursuant to HRS §11-156, a candidate who has unfiled disclosure reports or unpaid fines will not receive a certificate of election should that candidate win in a subsequent election.

Henry Cho
Candace Linton
Shaena Hoohuli, Hoohuli Headquarters
Lono Mack, MACK
Ryan Malish, 808Ryan4Senate
Devin McMackin, Friends of Big Mac
Chris Toafili, Chris Toafili
Kukana Kama-Toth, Friends of Kukana Kama-Toth

The following noncandidate committees violated the Hawaii campaign finance laws and have failed to register as well as file required disclosure reports.

KH Makaha, LLC
TC Restaurant Corporation
United Group of Home Operators, Inc.
Universal Equipment Rental Hawaii, LLC

REMINDER TO CHECK OFF THE $3 BOX ON YOUR 2024 TAX RETURN

The Commission continues to urge you to check off the $3 “yes” box on your 2024 tax return which permits $3 from state funds (or $6 if married and filing a joint return) to be allocated to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. The health and sustainability of public funding depends on greater participation of Hawaii taxpayers in checking off the $3 box. Checking off this box does not increase your tax or reduce your refund.

2024 MEETING SCHEDULE, MEETING AGENDAS AND BOARD PACKETS

Commission meetings for 2024 are generally scheduled for the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. via remote Zoom video conferencing and/or in-person in Conference Room 204, Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building, 235 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. View the 2024 Meeting Schedule, Meeting Agendas and Board Packets. Meeting location, dates and times are subject to change so please check the website prior to attending a meeting.

DOWNLOADABLE CALENDAR AVAILABLE ON THE COMMISSION’S WEBSITE

An updated and downloadable calendar of events including (but not limited to) the candidate committee and noncandidate committee reporting schedules, the Commission’s monthly meeting schedule, and the State holidays can be downloaded by individuals into their Apple, Google, Microsoft Outlook, and Yahoo calendars as well as many other calendar programs that use the standard iCal format, from the Commission’s website. View the Commission’s Downloadable Calendar.

2024 AMENDED STANDARD MILEAGE RATE ANNOUNCED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS)

Effective January 1, 2024, for those committees that seek reimbursement from campaign funds for the campaign related use of a personal vehicle, the federal standard mileage rate is 67 cents per mile as announced in IRS Notice 2024-08 (an increase of 1.5 cents from 2023). The Commission reminds these committees that a daily mileage log noting the campaign use and personal use of the personal vehicle satisfies recordkeeping requirements of HAR §3-160-23. See, HAR §3-160-45(b)(1)(B).

MAHALO TO COMMISSIONERS STANLEY LUM AND VICTOR BONFIGLIO; WELCOME NEW COMMISSIONERS DANTON WONG AND BARBARA POLK

The Commission is composed of five volunteers representing the general public who are appointed by the governor from a list of ten nominees submitted by the judicial council. Having served two 4-year terms from January 17, 2018 (he was not appointed until 2 years into this term) to June 30, 2024, Commissioner Stanley Lum who also served as Chair from September 2021 to February 2024, completed his final term on June 30, 2024. Also, Commissioner Victor Bonfiglio who served from November 9, 2020 to June 30, 2024, has decided to move on. We extend our warmest gratitude to Commissioners Lum and Bonfiglio for their many years of public service, guidance, stewardship, and dedication in ensuring transparency in campaign finance in several elections in the State of Hawaii.

We also extend or warmest welcome to our new Commissioners. On June 28, 2024, Governor Green selected Danton Wong and Barbara Polk to serve on the Commission for a term to expire on June 30, 2028. Both Commissioners will take the oath of office as a Campaign Spending Commissioner on July 3, 2024.

Danton Wong was born and raised in Honolulu. In 1979, he graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Economics, and in 1982 earned his law degree from UC Law San Francisco (formerly known as UC Hastings). He is a partner in Chun Kerr LLP concentrating in real estate transactions and business consultation. Out of the office he enjoys traveling, golfing and playing music.

Raised on the mainland, Barbara earned a BA in Psychology from Oberlin College in Ohio and a Ph.D in Social Psychology from University of Michigan. She was an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Wayne State University in Detroit before moving with her then husband and son to Honolulu in 1973. After a year as a planner for the Developmental Disabilities Council, she joined the staff of the University of Hawaii, spending the next 26 years in various staff and line positions, mostly in the Community College system, including nine years as Provost of Leeward Community College. She retired as Policy and Planning Officer for the University of Hawaii System. In retirement Barbara has been a meeting facilitator, and volunteer mediator and literacy tutor, as well as board member and chair of both Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii, and Common Cause, Hawaii, as these organizations worked on good government issues at the legislature, including ethics and campaign spending.