The Honolulu Ethics Commission says it was wrong for the city to accept a gift of travel for Mayor Peter Carlisle’s wife, and is telling him to write a $3,300 check to make the city whole.

In an advisory opinion released Thursday, the commission ruled that Judy Carlisle is not a city officer and her presence in China was “not necessary to accomplish a city purpose.” Carlisle and his wife were in China for 16 days in June 2011.

Because the Honolulu City Council accepted the gift, Carlisle’s on the hook to repay the city for the value of his wife’s travel — $3,300. If he doesn’t, he’ll have inappropriately used a city resource for personal purposes, the commission said.

Photo of Carlisle and his wife in Hiroshima, Japan

Carlisle responded Thursday that he initiated the inquiry with the ethics panel and said he disagreed with “the notion that a spouse’s travel might not serve a public purpose under appropriate circumstances.”

“Embracing Honolulu’s importance in Asia-Pacific culture and commerce is part of the business of the City and County of Honolulu. Diplomacy and protocol are similarly significant, especially when we are invited guests in their countries, and I feel their cultural expectations should be honored,” Carlisle said in his press release.

He said he’d consider his options and respond by Feb. 23.

Read the Ethics Commission press release here:

Honolulu ethics commission determines gifts to city may not be used for mayor’s wife’s china travel